Which of the following is a requirement of the SRM regulations (9 CFR 310.22)?

• A. Cattle over 30 months of age must be segregated during ante-mortem inspection
• B. All SRM must be removed during the slaughter process, prior to any fabrication or further processing
• C. IPP are to verify regulatory compliance only by looking at establishment SRM records
• D. Establishments must include how they will segregate and dispose of SRM in HACCP plans, SSOPs, or prerequisite programs

Answer: (D)

SRM handling is managed through a documented system embedded in the plant’s food safety programs. The regulation requires establishments to show exactly how they will segregate and dispose of SRM within their HACCP plans, SSOPs, or prerequisite programs. This ensures SRMs are clearly identified, kept separate from other tissues, and disposed of in an approved manner, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and addressing BSE concerns.

The other statements don’t align with how this regulation is enforced: ante-mortem segregation isn’t the focus of SRM control, SRMs aren’t required to be removed in a blanket, blanket-by-surgery sense without a documented program, and regulatory verification isn’t limited to reviewing SRM records alone but involves on-site verification and broader compliance checks.