<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".17" citation="COMAR 10.15.04.17" title_num="10" subtitle_num="15" chapter_num="04" heading="Animal Slaughtering, Meat Processing, and Poultry Processing.">
  <text>A person that slaughters animals and processes meat shall ensure that:</text>
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Animal slaughtering, meat processing, poultry processing, meat sales, and poultry sales are regulated and inspected in conformance with the applicable:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Federal laws;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Federal regulations;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>State laws;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>State regulations;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Local laws; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Local regulations;</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equine are slaughtered and processed in accordance with:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Federal Meat Inspection Act, 21 U.S.C. §§601—695; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Applicable federal, State, and local laws and regulations;</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Poultry are slaughtered and processed in accordance with:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Poultry Products Inspection Act, 21 U.S.C. §§451—471; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Applicable federal, State, and local regulations;</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>When slaughtered and processed for food for the public, domesticated animals, including poultry and rabbits that are not required by federal law or regulation to be inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture, are:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Inspected by the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>United States Department of Agriculture under a voluntary inspection program; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Maryland Department of Agriculture under a voluntary inspection program; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Processed into human food while being regulated by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The United States Department of Agriculture under a voluntary inspection program; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A meat inspection program or poultry inspection program administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>When processing deer meat for charitable donation:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Any processed deer is legally harvested;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Gutting and skinning of the deer and butchering operations shall be separated by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Time; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Distance;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Processing other animal species is separated by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Time; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Distance;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Hanging meat carcasses are stored at an internal temperature of 41°F or less;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Deer is processed for distribution only as fresh or frozen:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Raw whole cuts; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Raw, ground 100 percent venison;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Organ meat is not donated; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>A label containing cooking instructions is included.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>