706.1 If game animals are received for sale or service, they shall be commercially raised for food, and shall be:- (a) Raised, slaughtered, and processed under a voluntary inspection program that is; regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/ FSIS) Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. § 661) – Meat Inspection or the state agency that has jurisdiction over the plant;^P - (b) Under a routine inspection program regulated by the USDA/ FSIS Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. § 661) – Meat Inspection or the state agency that has jurisdiction over the plant;^P and - (c) Raised, slaughtered, and processed according to: - (1) Laws governing meat and poultry as determined by the USDA/ FSIS Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 603 and 604) – Meat Inspection or the state agency that has jurisdiction over the plant;^P and - (2) Requirements which are developed by the USDA/ FSIS Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 603, 604, and 661) – Meat Inspection; or the state agency that has jurisdiction over the plant; including consideration of factors such as the need for antemortem and postmortem examination by an approved veterinarian or veterinarian's designee.^P706.2 If game animals are received for sale or service they shall be under a voluntary inspection program administered by the USDA for game animals such as exotic animals (reindeer, elk, deer, antelope, water buffalo, or bison) that are 'inspected and approved' in accordance with 9 C.F.R. § 352 – Exotic Animal; Voluntary Inspection, or rabbits that are 'inspected and certified' in accordance with 9 C.F.R. § 354 – Voluntary Inspection of Rabbits And Edible Products Thereof.^P706.3 If wild game animals are live-caught and received for sale or service, as allowed by law, they shall be:^P- (a) Under a routine inspection program regulated by the USDA/ FSIS Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 603 and 604) – Meat Inspection; or the state agency that has jurisdiction over the plant;^P and - (b) Slaughtered and processed according to: - (1) Laws governing meat and poultry as determined by the USDA/ FSIS Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 603 and 604) –

Meat Inspection; Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. § 454), or the state agency that has jurisdiction over the plant;⁹ and

(2) Requirements developed by the USDA/ FSIS Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 603, 604, and 661) – Meat Inspection, or the state agency that has jurisdiction over the plant including consideration of factors such as the need for antemortem and postmortem examination by an approved veterinarian or veterinarian’s designee.⁹

706.4 If field-dressed wild game animals are received for sale or service, as allowed by law, they shall be under a routine inspection program that ensures the animals:

(a) Receive a postmortem examination by an approved veterinarian or veterinarian’s designee;⁹ or

(b) Are field-dressed and transported according to requirements specified by the USDA/ FSIS Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 603, 604, and 661) – Meat Inspection, or the state agency that has jurisdiction over the plant; and

(c) Are processed according to laws governing meat and poultry as determined by the USDA/ FSIS Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 603, 604, and 661) – Meat Inspection; USDA/ FSIS Poultry Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 451, 454, 455, and 456) - Poultry Inspection, or the state agency that has jurisdiction over the plant;⁹

706.5 A game animal may not be received for sale or service if it is a species of wildlife that is listed in 50 C.F.R. § 17 – Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 50 DCR 4394 (June 6, 2003); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 13690 (November 30, 2012).