USDA Recognizes Avian Leukosis as a Trimmable Condition

July 18, 2020 from NMPAN listserv - for USDA Poultry Operations:

FSIS has granted a petition from the National Chicken Council (NCC) respectfully to amend its regulations to recognize avian leukosis as a trimmable condition. Specifically, the petition requested that FSIS (1) amend 9 C.F.R. § 381.82 to treat lesions that could be suspected as being caused by avian leukosis as a trimmable condition and not a condition that requires whole bird condemnation, and (2) that FSIS remove the provisions in 9 C.F.R. § 381.36(f)(3) and § 381.76(b)(6)(iv) related to checking the first 300 birds from an incoming flock for avian leukosis in all poultry slaughter establishments operating under the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS).

This is a major shift in inspection policy, which has always considered any neoplasm involving the lymphatic system to be metastatic by definition and therefore requiring condemnation of the entire carcass. It will be a while before you see FSIS conduct rule making to amend the CFR, so in the meantime, to take advantage of the impact of the petition on your operation:

• maintain a copy of the NCC petition and FSIS response.
• make this petition response a point of discussion in a weekly meeting and verify that the SPHV and FLS acknowledge the policy change.

This change does NOT apply to CDFA Licensed and CDFA Exempt operations.

3 CA Code of Regulations § 1250 Diseases and Conditions Requiring Condemnation of Affected Carcasses.

(a) Carcasses of poultry affected with or showing lesions of any of the following-named diseases or conditions shall be condemned:

• Acute ornithosis.
• Tuberculosis.
• Erysipelothrix septicemia.
• Salmonellosis septicemia.
• Tularemia.
• Anthrax.
• Hemorrhage septicemia.
• Pyemia.
• Leukemia.
• Sarcomatosis.
• Metritis.
• Necro-bacillosis (Smorl's disease).
• Emaciation in rabbits.
• Septicemia.
• Toxemia.
• Viremia.