Okla. Admin. Code § 35:37-3-11

Current through Vol. 42, No. 8, January 2, 2025

Section 35:37-3-11 - Grandfather clause

(a) Any mobile slaughter operator currently listed with the State of Oklahoma who can demonstrate to the Board that the operator's mobile slaughter unit and operation complies with the basic sanitary facilities and functions such as pressurized water and sterilizing agents and can provide a clean dust proof manner of transporting the carcass, may be allowed to continue operation until:

(1) The operator's current mobile slaughter unit is out of use.

(2) The operator's permit is revoked.

(3) The Board finds that the operator is producing an unacceptable product.

(b) Excluding the Grandfather clause and from henceforth all mobile farm slaughtering establishments shall be constructed and equipped with the following:

(1) It shall have a van-type body enclosing and covering the unit, excluding the driver's cab and hoist, with surfaces constructed from non-rusting metal or other materials that are non-rusting and amenable to proper and adequate cleaning. Wood may only be used as internal framing or spacing materials between double non-wooden walls. It shall be designed and constructed to prevent the entry of contaminants (dirt, dust, insects, etc.) and to allow the exterior and interior to be easily cleanable and sanitized.

(2) Materials for use in mobile farm slaughter establishments must be approved by the Board prior to beginning construction of a mobile farm slaughter establishment. All mobile farm slaughtering establishments will be inspected by the Board for conformance with construction and facility requirements prior to issuance of a permit.

(3) It shall have a metal interior lining, with the junctions of facing surfaces to be smoothly welded or soldered (or rolled and soldered) and spatter removed. All interior corners shall be rounded for ease of cleaning. Caulking compounds shall not be substituted for welding or soldering. The interior facing surfaces shall not be painted. The minimum metal gauges for interior facing surfaces are 14 gauge for aluminum, 16 gauge for sheet metal, and 17 gauge for stainless steel. Fiberglass, or fiberglass reinforced resin or aluminum alloys are permitted upon being approved by the Board. Insulation shall be non-absorbent.

(4) It shall have the following minimum interior dimensions (excluding space for tanks and other affixed or mounted equipment).

(A) Height of 6 feet

(B) Length of 6 feet

(C) Width of 4 feet for single center hanging rail or 6 feet for double hanging rail.

(5) It shall have affixed a metal hoist of not less than 1 1/2 tons capacity, capable of lifting carcasses to above 12 inches from the ground for purposes of bleeding and evisceration. The hoist shall be situated so that carcasses suspended from it do not contact the truck or trailer body, and shall be equipped with a metal beef spreader.

(6) It shall contain sterilizing agents labeled for use in a food processing plant in sufficient amounts to sterilize all knives, cleavers, saws, hooks, and pans used in slaughter operation.

(7) It shall contain a water tank of rust resistant metal (such as a water tank for home use) and at least one hose with nozzle for washing of carcasses. It shall contain at least 10 gallons of potable water per head, depending upon the capacity of the mobile slaughter unit. (3 head capacity 30 gallons, 6 head capacity 60 gallons etc.) It shall contain at least 60 pounds per square inch pressure, prior to commencing the slaughter operations. The pressure shall be maintained during all slaughter operations.

(c) Unless specified in these rules, all equipment shall be fabricated from metal or other approved material. Hooks, trolleys, and spreaders used in dressing carcasses shall be constructed of non-rusting materials.

Okla. Admin. Code § 35:37-3-11

Added at 21 Ok Reg 1181, eff 5-27-04; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 2197, eff 7-25-11