USDA Issues Humane Handling Enforcement Directive

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) this week issued a directive with new instructions to its inspectors that it said will better ensure the humane treatment and slaughter of livestock presented for processing at FSIS-inspected facilities.

"USDA is deeply committed to ensuring the humane treatment of livestock at federally inspected establishments," said Under Secretary for Food Safety Elisabeth Hagen, M.D. "We are honoring that commitment with clear guidance and better training for our inspection program personnel."

This directive provides new instructions for inspection program personnel to ensure that treatment of livestock during handling and slaughter minimizes the animals' amount of excitement, pain, injury or discomfort. FSIS will train its personnel to ensure they are prepared to carry out these new instructions.