ADMINISTRATION OF IMPORTANT REGULATORY LAWS "J 'T^ 



quent enactments; but it was not until 1906 that an adequate 

 statute, providing for a thorough inspection of meats and 

 meat products, and having as its primary object the safe- 

 guarding of the health of the people, was passed by Congress. 

 This latter measure was slightly amended and reenacted in 

 its present form March 4, 1907." 



Under the present law emphasis is placed upon the post- 

 mortem examination. The inspection of animals prior to 

 their slaughter is left within the discretion of the Secretary 

 of Agriculture. In general, the act provides for the main- 

 tenance by the Department of Agriculture of a system of 

 inspection in packing houses and other establishments in 

 which cattle, sheep, swine and goats are slaughtered, or the 

 carcasses or meat products of which are prepared for inter- 

 state or foreign commerce ; and prohibits the shipment or 

 transportation of such articles in interstate or foreign" com- 

 merce unless they bear the mark of federal inspection and 

 approval as required by the act. 



The provisions of the meat inspection law requiring in- 

 spection do not apply to animals slaughtered by farmers on 

 the farm nor to retail butchers and dealers. However, the 

 regulations of the department require that such butchers and 

 dealers, in order to ship meat or meat food products in in- 

 terstate or foreign commerce, shall first obtain certificates of 

 exemption ; but no such requirement is made of farmers. 

 These certificates are issued only after an examination of 

 the premises of the applicant, and after certain sanitation 

 requirements have been met. They may be summarily re- 

 voked for any violation of the regulations. 



The requirements as to sanitation in the establishments 

 that operate under federal inspection form a very important 

 part of the meat-inspection regulations.^ Ample authority 

 on this subject is granted in the act. The requirements are 

 of two kinds: those relating to the cleanliness of rooms and 

 equipment, and conduct of operations in plants already in 



■'34 Stat. L. 1256. 



* Bureau of Animal Tmliislry Order no. _mi, Issiud July 30, 1914. 



