74 THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



existence ; and those fixing rules for tlie construction of new 

 plants and the installation of new equipment. Prior to the 

 inauguration of inspection, an examination of the establish- 

 ment and premises must be made by an employee of the Dq- 

 _partment of Agriculture and the requirem.ents for sanitation 

 and the necessary facilities for inspection specified. 



Some idea of the scope of these sanitary regulations may 

 be gained from the following: There must be sufficient light 

 to insure sanitary conditions in all rooms and compartments ; 

 there must be adequate drainage and plumbing systems ; the 

 water supply must be clean and ample and subjected to lab- 

 oratory tests to insure its purity; sanitary and adequate 

 dressing rooms, toilets and lavatories must be installed ; 

 floors, walls, ceilings and other structural parts must be of 

 such materials as to make them susceptible of being readily 

 and thoroughly cleaned ; and all rooms and equipment used 

 for edible products must be kept separated from those used 

 for inedible products. Many other regulations have been 

 prescribed to prevent the introduction or spread of com- 

 municable diseases. Inspection is not inaugurated until a 

 satisfactory compliance with the sanitary requirements is 

 shown and proper facilities for the conduct of the inspection 

 are provided. 



The proprietor or operator of an establishment which is 

 subject to the provisions of the meat inspection law must file 

 an application and submit triplicate copies of the plans and 

 specifications of the plant. The plans are referred to the 

 architect of the Bureau of Animal Industry to determine 

 whether the structure and arrangements conform to the 

 regulations. Each establishment to which inspection is 

 granted is assigned an official number. This number iden- 

 tifies the plant, and must appear in every instance as a part 

 of the mark of inspection. 



When inspection is granted and an official number as- 

 signed, a force of inspectors is detailed to the establishment 

 to perform the inspection and enforce the regulations under 

 the direction of an inspector in charge. 



