Minnesota Administrative Code

1540.0030 EXAMINATION AND INSPECTION. The commissioner may cause to be made, by inspectors, an examination and inspection of any animal in a slaughterhouse including custom slaughterhouses and any animals found on inspection in any custom slaughterhouse to show symptoms of diseas…

1540.0040 SANITATION, ADULTERATION, AND MISBRANDING PROVISIONS. The sanitation, adulteration, and misbranding provisions of parts 1540.0010 to 1540.4520 shall apply to articles which are exempted from mandatory inspection under parts 1540.0010 to 1540.4520. Statutory Authority: M…

1540.0050 SALE OF INSPECTED MEAT ONLY. No person shall sell, offer for sale, or have in possession with intent to sell any meat or meat food products unless such products have been inspected and passed by the USDA or by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Statutory Authority…

1540.0090 FEDERALLY INSPECTED ESTABLISHMENTS. Parts 1540.0010 to 1540.4520 shall not apply to a federally inspected establishment provided, however, that federally inspected establishments may also apply for designation as an official establishment, under these rules. In determin…

1540.0250 REPORTS OF VIOLATIONS OF RULES. Inspectors and other department employees shall report all violations and failure of which they have knowledge, to the commissioner. Statutory Authority: MS s 31A.08 Published Electronically: April 12, 2024

1540.0270 ACCESS TO ESTABLISHMENTS. For the purpose of any examination or inspection necessary to enforce any of the provisions of these parts, department employees shall have access at all times, by day or night, whether the establishment is operated or not, to every part of any…

1540.0280 IDENTIFICATION OF INSPECTORS. Each department employee will be furnished an official identification card which the employee shall not allow to leave the employee's possession. This identification card shall be sufficient identification to entitle the employee to admitta…

1540.0290 ASSIGNMENT OF INSPECTORS WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS EMPLOYED. Except as specifically authorized by the commissioner, no department employee shall be detailed for duty at an establishment where any member of the employee's family is employed by the establishment, nor shall any…

1540.0300 SOLICITING EMPLOYMENT. Department employees are forbidden to solicit, for any person, employment at any official establishment, or by any officer, manager, or employee thereof. Statutory Authority: MS s 31A.08 Published Electronically: August 28, 2002

1540.0310 INTERFERENCE WITH OR ABUSE OF INSPECTORS. No person shall resist, intimidate, delay, obstruct, hamper, abuse, or interfere with any inspector in the discharge or attempt to discharge any duty of office, nor shall any person attempt by means of any threat or violence to …

1540.0360 FACILITIES AND CONDITIONS TO BE PROVIDED BY ESTABLISHMENT. When required by the commissioner, the following facilities and conditions, and such others as may be essential to efficient conduct of inspection and maintenance of sanitary conditions shall be provided by each…

1540.0430 CLEANSING, DISINFECTING, AND STERILIZING. Adequate arrangements, including liquid soap and cleansers, for cleansing and disinfecting hands, for sterilizing all implements used in dressing diseased carcasses, floors, and such other articles and places as may be contamina…

1540.0470 FACILITIES FOR DISPOSAL OF CONDEMNED ARTICLES. Adequate facilities, including denaturing materials, for the proper disposal of condemned articles in accordance with these rules. Tanks or other rendering equipment which, under these rules, must be sealed, shall be proper…

1540.0480 DOCKS AND RECEIVING ROOMS FOR RECEIPT AND INSPECTION OF MEAT AND PRODUCTS. Docks and receiving rooms, to be designated by the establishment, with the approval of the inspector, for the receipt and inspection of all meat and products as provided in part 1540.4140. Statut…

1540.0530 REQUIREMENTS FOR SANITARY CONDITIONS FOR ESTABLISHMENTS AND PREMISES. Establishments and premises on or in which animals are slaughtered or in which any meat or product is prepared or handled, shall be maintained in sanitary condition, and to this end the requirements o…

1540.0540 LIGHT AND VENTILATION. There shall be abundant light, both natural and artificial, of good quality and well distributed, and sufficient ventilation for all rooms and compartments, to insure sanitary condition. Statutory Authority: MS s 31A.08 Published Electronically: A…

1540.0550 DRAINAGE AND PLUMBING. There shall be an efficient drainage and plumbing system for the establishment and premises, and all drains and gutters shall be properly installed with approved traps and vents. Statutory Authority: MS s 31A.08 Published Electronically: August 28…

1540.0560 WATER SUPPLY. The water supply shall be ample, clean, and potable, with adequate facilities for its distribution in the plant and its protection against contamination and pollution. Every establishment shall make known and, whenever required, shall afford opportunity fo…

1540.0570 REUSE OF WATER. Inspectors may permit the reuse of water in vapor lines leading from deodorizers used in the preparation of lard and similar edible products and in equipment used for the chilling of canned products after retorting, provided the reuse is for the identica…

1540.0590 HOT WATER UNDER PRESSURE. Hot water for cleaning rooms and equipment shall be delivered under pressure to sufficient convenient outlets and shall be of such temperature as to accomplish a thorough cleanup. Statutory Authority: MS s 31.101; 31A.08 History: 27 SR 260 Publ…

1540.0600 PARTS OF STRUCTURES. The floors, walls, ceilings, partitions, posts, doors, and other parts of all structures shall be of such materials, construction, and finish as will make them susceptible of being readily and thoroughly cleaned. The floors shall be kept watertight.…

1540.0610 ROOMS AND COMPARTMENTS. The rooms and compartments in which any meat or product is prepared or handled shall be free from dust and odors from dressing and toilet rooms, catch basins, hide cellars, casing rooms, inedible tank and fertilizer rooms, and livestock pens. Sta…

1540.0620 EXCLUSION OF FLIES, RATS, MICE, AND OTHER VERMIN. Every practicable precaution shall be taken to exclude flies, rats, mice, and other vermin from establishments. The use of poisons for any purpose in rooms or compartments where any unpacked product is stored or handled …

1540.0630 EXCLUSION OF DOGS AND CATS. Dogs and cats shall be excluded from establishments. Statutory Authority: MS s 31A.08 Published Electronically: August 28, 2002

1540.0635 SANITARY FACILITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS. Adequate sanitary facilities and accommodations shall be furnished by every establishment. Of these the following are specifically required. Statutory Authority: MS s 31A.08 Published Electronically: August 28, 2002

1540.0640 DRESSING ROOMS, TOILET ROOMS, AND URINALS. Dressing rooms, toilet rooms, and urinals shall be sufficient in number, ample in size, and conveniently located. The rooms shall be provided with windows to admit direct, natural light and shall have adequate facilities for ar…

1540.0650 LAVATORY ACCOMMODATIONS. Modern lavatory accommodations, including running hot and cold water, soap, towels, etc. These shall be placed in or near toilet and urinal rooms and also at such other places in the establishment as may be essential to assure cleanliness of all…

1540.0660 TOILET SOIL LINES. Toilet soil lines shall be separate from house drainage lines to a point outside the buildings and drainage from toilet bowls and urinals shall not be discharged into a grease catch basin. Statutory Authority: MS s 31A.08 Published Electronically: Aug…

1540.0670 FACILITIES FOR DISINFECTING AND CLEANSING UTENSILS AND HANDS. Properly located facilities for disinfecting and cleansing utensils and hands of all persons handling any meat or product. Statutory Authority: MS s 31A.08 Published Electronically: August 28, 2002

1540.0680 EASILY CLEANABLE EQUIPMENT. Equipment and utensils used for preparing, processing, and otherwise handling any product shall be of such materials and construction as will make them susceptible of being readily and thoroughly cleaned and such as will insure strict cleanli…

1540.0690 SCABBARDS FOR KNIVES. Scabbards and similar devices for the temporary retention of knives, steels, triers, etc., by workers and others at inspected establishments shall be constructed of rust-resisting metal or other impervious material, shall be of a type that may be r…

1540.0700 CLEANLINESS AND SANITATION OF PARTS OF ESTABLISHMENT. Rooms, compartments, places, equipment, and utensils used for preparing, storing, or otherwise handling any product, and all other parts of the establishment, shall be kept clean and in sanitary condition. There shal…

1540.0710 CLEANLY AND SANITARY METHODS FOR OPERATIONS AND PROCEDURES. Operations and procedures involving the preparation, storing, or handling of any product shall be strictly in accord with cleanly and sanitary methods. Statutory Authority: MS s 31A.08 Published Electronically:…

1540.0720 STEAM, VAPORS, AND MOISTURE. Rooms and compartments in which inspections are made and those in which animals are slaughtered or any product is processed or prepared shall be kept sufficiently free of steam and vapors to enable department employees to make inspections an…

1540.0730 CLEANLINESS OF HANDS AND IMPLEMENTS. Butchers and others who dress or handle diseased carcasses or parts shall, before handling or dressing other carcasses or parts, cleanse their hands with liquid soap and hot water, and rinse them in clean water. Implements used in dr…

1540.0740 APRONS, FROCKS, AND OTHER OUTER CLOTHING. Aprons, frocks, and other outer clothing worn by persons who handle any product shall be of material that is readily cleansed and only clean garments shall be worn. Statutory Authority: MS s 31A.08 Published Electronically: Augu…

1540.0750 PROHIBITED PRACTICES. Such practices as spitting on whetstones; spitting on the floor; placing skewers, tags, or knives in the mouth; inflating lungs or casings; or testing with air from the mouth such receptacles as tierces, kegs, casks, and the like, containing or int…

1540.0760 PROTECTIVE COVERINGS FOR PRODUCTS. Inspectors shall require the use of such protective coverings for product as it is distributed from establishments as will afford adequate protection for the product against dust, dirt, insects, and the like, considering the means inte…

1540.0790 INSPECTION AND SANITATION OF VEHICLES. Vehicles used by establishments in transporting meat and product shall be regularly inspected for cleanliness and shall be kept free of all soil, accumulated grease, or debris. When required such vehicles shall be thoroughly cleans…

1540.0820 INSPECTION AND CLEANING OF SECONDHAND TUBS, BARRELS, AND BOXES. Secondhand tubs, barrels, and boxes intended for use as containers of any meat or product shall be inspected when received at the establishment and before they are cleaned. Those showing evidence of misuse …

1540.0840 INEDIBLE OPERATING AND STORAGE ROOMS, OUTER PREMISES. All operating and storage rooms and departments of establishments used for inedible materials shall be maintained in acceptably clean condition. The outer premises of every establishment, embracing docks and areas wh…

1540.0850 CATCH BASINS; NUISANCE. All catch basins on the premises shall be of such construction and location and shall be given such attention as will insure their being kept in acceptable condition as regards odors and cleanliness. Catch basins shall not be located in departmen…

1540.0860 EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISEASES. No establishment shall employ, in any department where any meat or meat product is handled or prepared, any person affected with tuberculosis or other communicable disease in a transmissible stage. Statutory Authority: MS s 31A.08 Pu…

1540.0870 REJECTION OF INSANITARY EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, ROOMS, OR COMPARTMENTS. When, in the opinion of a department employee, any equipment, utensil, or room at any slaughterhouse, retail meat market, wholesale meat processing plant, frozen food processing plant, or sausage plant…

1540.1270 CONDEMNED CARCASSES AND PARTS. Each carcass or part which is found on final inspection to be unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food shall be conspicuously marked on the surface tissues thereof by a department employee at the time of inspect…

1540.1370 CLEANING OF CARCASSES WITH SKIN OR HIDE LEFT ON. When a carcass is to be dressed with the skin or hide left on, the skin or hide shall be thoroughly washed and cleaned before any incision is made for the purpose of removing any part thereof or evisceration, except that …

1540.1480 DISPOSAL OF DISEASED CARCASSES AND PARTS. The carcasses or parts of carcasses of all animals slaughtered at an official establishment and found at the time of slaughter or at any subsequent inspection to be affected with any of the diseases or conditions named in parts …