Meat Institute Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit
Slaughter Plant Guidelines and Audits
Since 1991, the Meat Institute has encouraged its members to subscribe to voluntary animal welfare guidelines and to embrace auditing programs and they have done so. The meat industry was the first sector in animal agriculture to develop such guidelines and to begin self-audit programs.
Data collected by Colorado State University's Dr. Temple Grandin for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and major restaurant chains show that animal handling in the meat industry has improved dramatically during the last two decades. The data can be viewed at http://www.grandin.com.
To help promote good animal welfare practices, the Meat Institute houses the widely-accepted Humane Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide, which provides industry stakeholders with guidance on humane transport and handling, effective stunning procedures, and auditing to ensure that animals are treated humanely throughout the transport, holding, and slaughter processes.
Data collected by Colorado State University's Dr. Temple Grandin for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and major restaurant chains show that animal handling in the meat industry has improved dramatically during the last two decades.
The Meat Institute released its updated 2021 Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide in January 2021. This replaces the 2019 edition.
The Meat Institute Animal Welfare Committee developed a "Frequently Asked Questions” document to address questions that might arise during auditor training or during the auditing process. This page provides information on questions about the Meat Institute Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide that may come up frequently or between review processes.
Regulations
Federal Oversight
Meat plants that handle and slaughter live animals are the most regulated and inspected industry in America. Federal Humane Slaughter Act regulations are enforced by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and specify the proper treatment and humane handling of livestock slaughtered in USDA-inspected slaughter plants. The law’s provisions are numerous and include requirements that livestock be handled calmly with minimal excitement, that they never be dragged, that objects that cause unnecessary pain not be used to drive livestock, that water be provided in holding pens at all times, that feed be provided if an animal is at a plant more than 24 hours, and that livestock be rendered completely unconscious prior to slaughter. Federal inspectors are present at all times in plants that handle live animals and are empowered to take actions for compliance failures, including stopping production and even withdrawing inspection in extreme cases. FSIS releases notices, directives and other guidance (linked below) to the field as part of its oversight efforts.
