California Meat and Poultry Supplemental Inspection ActProcessing Inspector License—meat Processing Establishment

Section § 19000

Explanation

If you want to become a licensed processing inspector at a retail meat processing place, you need to apply for and get a license from the department. This involves passing a test and showing you understand meat inspection laws.

You also need practical knowledge about: (a) what can cause meat to be unsafe or falsely labeled, (b) how to properly handle meat and poultry during processing, and (c) keeping the equipment and facilities clean and sanitary.

Each person, before acting as a licensed processing inspector in a retail meat processing establishment, shall apply to the department and receive from the department a license after passing an examination and a demonstration that shows the applicant’s ability to understand laws and regulations that pertain to meat inspection and a practical knowledge of all the following:
(a)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 19000(a) Conditions that affect adulteration, misbranding, and wholesomeness of livestock and poultry products.
(b)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 19000(b) Sanitary meat and poultry processing procedures.
(c)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 19000(c) Sanitation of the facilities and the equipment used in retail meat processing establishments.
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Section § 19001

Explanation

A licensed processing inspector must check the cleanliness and safety of a facility before it opens each day and make additional checks during the day. If the facility isn’t clean enough or products aren’t handled correctly, the inspector can order it to stop or not start operations. Inspectors also ensure that all products with the inspection mark meet health standards, coming from approved USDA or certain locally processed sources.

(a)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 19001(a) A licensed processing inspector shall conduct a sanitation inspection before the establishment commences operations for the day, and shall make periodic inspections throughout the day.
(b)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 19001(b) The licensed processing inspector shall order the establishment not to begin operations or to cease operations at any time that the establishment sanitation fails to meet the requirements of this chapter and the regulations adopted thereunder, or at any time any product is not handled, retained, condemned, or disposed of in violation of this chapter or the regulations thereunder.
(c)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 19001(c) The licensed processing inspector shall direct the application of the mark of inspection as provided by regulations on products that are inspected by him or her and found to be wholesome, not adulterated, and derived from (1) United States Department of Agriculture inspected carcasses, or (2) fallow deer carcasses at custom livestock slaughterhouses.
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Section § 19002

Explanation
The department can suspend or take away the license of a processing inspector if they allow products to be processed or labeled in a way that doesn't follow the rules stated in the law.
The department may suspend or revoke the license of a licensed processing inspector for permitting the processing or labeling of products not meeting the requirements provided for in this article.
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