Labels, Tags, and Brands

“U. S. Suspect” Tag.

Regulation 20.

To the ear or tail of each animal inspected under Regulation 13 which shows symptoms or is suspected of being affected with any disease or condition which, under these regulations, may cause its condemnation on post-mortem inspection, there shall be affixed by a Department employee at the time of inspection a numbered metal tag bearing the words “U. S. Suspect.” The employee who affixes the tag shall report the number to the inspector in charge. This “U. S. Suspect” tag shall remain upon the animal until the preliminary post-mortem inspection at the time of slaughter. If no lesions of disease are then discovered, the “U. S. Suspect” tag shall be removed and forwarded to the inspector in charge, with a report that the carcass has been inspected and passed, and the carcass shall be labeled or stamped “U. S. Inspected and Passed,” as hereinafter provided.

Ante-Mortem Condemned Tag.

Regulation 21.

To the ear of each animal which is found in a dying condition or dead on the premises of an establishment at which inspection is maintained there shall be affixed by a Department employee a numbered metal tag bearing the words “U. S. Condemned.” The ear bearing the tag shall not be removed from the carcass. The number of this tag shall be reported to the inspector in charge by the employee who affixes it. This tag shall remain on the condemned carcass until it reaches the tank, and immediately before tanking it shall be removed by the Department employee who is supervising the tanking and returned with a report to the inspector in charge.

Labeling Beef for Export.

Regulation 22.

Upon each quarter of each dressed beef carcass inspected and passed for export there shall be placed by a Department employee a meat-inspection label or mark, which shall bear the number of the establishment and the words “U. S. Inspected and Passed.”

Labeling Beef for Interstate Commerce.

Regulation 23.

Upon each dressed beef carcass inspected and passed for interstate commerce there shall be placed by a Department employee at the time of inspection at least ten labels or marks bearing the number of the establishment and the words “U. S. Inspected and Passed.”

Labeling Canners.

Regulation 24.

Upon each quarter of each dressed beef carcass inspected and passed, and which is to be cut up and prepared in the establishment in which the animal was slaughtered or in another establishment where inspection is maintained, there shall be placed by a Department employee at the time of inspection one label or mark bearing the establishment number and the words “U. S. Inspected and Passed.” If, however, a primal part of any such carcass is to leave the establishment for interstate or foreign commerce, such primal part, or the container thereof, must be labeled, stamped, or branded, under the personal supervision of a Department employee, with the establishment number and the words “U. S. Inspected and Passed.”

Labeling Carcasses of Sheep, Calves, Swine, and Goats.

Regulation 25.

Upon the dressed carcasses of sheep, calves, swine, and goats inspected and passed for interstate or export commerce there shall be placed by a Department employee at the time of inspection at least two labels or marks bearing the number of the establishment and the words “U. S. Inspected and Passed.”

Stamp on Cloth Wrapping.

Regulation 26.

When the dressed carcasses or parts thereof of cattle, sheep, calves, swine, or goats are wrapped or inclosed for shipment for interstate or export commerce in burlap, muslin, cheese cloth, or other similar substance, the covering shall bear a meat-inspection stamp or other mark on which shall appear the establishment number and the words “U. S. Inspected and Passed.”

“U. S. Retained” Tag

Regulation 27.

Upon each carcass, or part or detached organ thereof, inspected under Regulation 14, in which any lesion of disease or other condition is found that would probably render the meat or any organ unfit for food purposes, there shall be placed by a Department employee at the time of inspection a paper tag, numbered in duplicate, bearing the words “U. S. Retained,” attached by a wire and seal. The inspector who attaches this “U. S. Retained” tag shall detach the numbered stub thereof and return it with his report to the inspector in charge. The other portion shall accompany the carcass to the retaining Room.

“U. S. Condemned Stamp.”

Regulation 28.

Upon each carcass, or part or detached organ thereof, which is found on final inspection in the retaining room, or other special place for final inspection, to be unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food, there shall be stamped conspicuously by a Department employee at the time of inspection the words “U. S. Inspected and Condemned.” In addition the “U. S. Retained” tag shall remain upon the carcass and shall be stamped with the words “U. S. Inspected and Condemned.” This stamped “U. S. Retained” tag shall accompany the carcass to the tank and shall be removed immediately before tanking by the Department employee who is supervising that operation, and he shall write or stamp upon the tag the word “Tanked,” the date, sign his name, and return the tag with his report to the inspector in charge. If, however, upon final inspection the carcass is passed for food, the inspector shall stamp the retained tag “U. S. Inspected and Passed,” and return the tag with his report to the inspector in charge.

Marking of Primal Parts.

Regulation 29.

On each primal part, or organ, or the container thereof, which has been inspected and passed, and which is to leave the establishment for interstate or export commerce, and which has not been theretofore marked with the words “U. S. Inspected and Passed,” and the establishment number, there shall be placed, under the personal supervision of a Department employee, a mark, stamp, or brand bearing the words “U. S. Inspected and Passed” and the establishment number. When primal parts or organs are shipped between establishments at which inspection is maintained the number of the establishment need not appear.

Branding Irons.

Regulation 30.

When hot branding irons or other instruments are used to label hams, bacon, or other primal part with the name of the packer, or with a trade-mark, and it is desired, in addition, to indicate that the meat has been inspected by the Department of Agriculture, the wording for this purpose, which shall be in letters and figures of sufficient size to be legible, shall include the number of the establishment in which the product was produced, and also the statement “U. S. Inspected and Passed,” or the abbreviated statement “U. S. Ins. Psd.” This marking shall be accepted as the United States inspection mark. It shall be affixed, however, only under the personal supervision of a Department employee.

“Special” Stamp.

Regulation 31.

Upon all meats and meat food products prepared for export with preservatives under Regulation 39, paragraph (b), there shall also be stamped or branded, under the personal supervision of a Department employee, the word “Special.” This word “Special” shall not be used upon any inspected meats or meat food products not prepared under said Regulation 39, unless it is used in combination with other words.

Trade Labels.

Regulation 32.

Upon each can, pot, tin, canvas, or other receptacle or covering containing any meat or meat food product for interstate or foreign commerce, except packages on which meat-inspection stamps appear, there shall be placed, under the supervision of a Department employee, a trade label. This trade label shall contain the words “U. S. Inspected and Passed, under the Act of Congress of June 30, 1906,” in plain letters and figures of uniform size, the number of the establishment at which the meat or meat food product is last prepared or packed, and labeled, and the true name of the meat or meat food product contained in such package. Only trade names which are not false or deceptive may be used upon the trade label. A copy of each trade label shall be filed with the inspector in charge for his approval. The inspector in charge shall approve or disapprove each trade label, and report his action for approval to the Chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry, forwarding the label with his report. Only trade labels which have been approved by the Secretary of Agriculture shall be used.

Regulation 33.

False or Deceptive Names.—No meat or meat food products shall be sold or offered for sale by any person, firm, or corporation in interstate or foreign commerce under any false or deceptive name; but established trade name or names which are usual to such products and which are not false and deceptive, and which shall be approved by the Secretary of Agriculture, are permitted. Trade labels which are false or deceptive in any particular shall not be permitted. A meat food product, whether composed of one or more ingredients, shall not be named on a trade label with a name stating or purporting to show that the said meat food product is a substance which is not the principal ingredient contained therein, even though such name be an established trade name.

Tagging Reinspected Meats and Meat Food Products.

Regulation 34.

Upon all meats or meat food products, which are suspected on reinspection of being unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food, or upon the containers thereof, there shall be placed by a Department employee at the time of reinspection the “U. S. Retained” tags hereinbefore described. The employee who affixes the tag shall send the numbered stub with his report to the inspector in charge. These tags shall accompany the said meats or meat food products to the retaining room or other special place for final inspection. When the final inspection is made, if the meat or meat food product be condemned the “U. S. Retained” tag shall be stamped “U. S. Inspected and Condemned,” and shall accompany the condemned meat or meat food product to the tank.

Immediately before the meat or meat food product is tanked the employee supervising that operation shall write or stamp the word “Tanked” and the date upon the said tag, and sign his name thereto, and forward the tag to the inspector in charge with his report. If, however, upon final inspection the meat or meat food product is passed for food, the inspector shall stamp the retained tag “U. S. Inspected and Passed,” and return the tag with his report to the inspector in charge.

Reference to United States Inspection.

Regulation 35.

Except as provided in these regulations, no reference to United States inspection shall appear upon any meat or meat food product or the container thereof.