Chapter 555.
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CHAP. 555.— An act to provide for the inspection of live cattle, hogs, and the carcasses and products thereof which are the subjects of interstate commerce, and for other purposes.March 3, 1891. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Inspection of cattle for export. That the Secretary of Agriculture shall cause to be made a careful inspection of all cattle intended for export to foreign countries from the United States, at such times and places, and in such manner, as he may think proper, with a view to ascertain whether such cattle are free from disease;
And for this purpose he may appoint inspectors, who shall be authorizedInspection certificate. to give an official certificate clearly stating the condition in which .such animals are found, and no clearance shall be given to any vesselClearances. having on board cattle for exportation to a foreign country unless the owner or shipper of such cattle has a certificate from the inspector herein authorized to be appointed, stating that said cattle are sound and free from disease. 1090FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
Sess. II. Ch. 555. 1891. Sec. 2. That the Secretary of Agriculture shall also cause to beInspection of cattle whose meat is to be exported. made a careful inspection of all live cattle the meat of which is intended for exportation to any foreign country, at such times and places, and in such manner, as he may think proper, with a view to ascertain whether said cattle are free from disease and their meat sound and wholesome, and may appoint inspectors, who shall be Inspection certificate.
Clearances.authorized to give an official certificate clearly stating the condition in which such cattle and meat are found, and no clearance shall be given to any vessel having on board any fresh beef for exportation to and sale in a foreign country from any port of the United States until the owner or shipper shall obtain from an inspector appointed under the provisions of this act such certificate. Sec. 3. The Secretary of Agriculture shall cause to be inspectedInspection of animals before slaughter, for interstate commerce. prior to their slaughter, all cattle, sheep, and hogs which are subjects of interstate commerce and which are about to be slaughtered at slaughterhouses, canning, salting, packing or rendering establishments in any State or Territory, the carcasses or products of which are to be transported and sold for human consumption in any other State or Territory, or the District of Columbia, and in addition to the aforesaid inspection, there may be made in all cases where the Secretary of Agriculture may deem necessary or expedient, Post mortem examination.under rules and regulations to be by him prescribed, a postmortem examination of the carcasses of all cattle, sheep and hogs about to be prepared for human consumption at any slaughterhouse, canning, salting, packing or rendering establishment in any State or Territory, or the District of Columbia which are the subjects of interstate commerce.
Sec. 4. That said examination shall be made in the manner ProvidedRules and regulations for examination, etc. by rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture, and after said examination the carcasses and products of all cattle, sheep, and swine found to be free of disease, and wholesome, sound, and fit for human food, shall be marked, stamped, or labeled for identification as maybe provided by said rules and regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture.
Any person who shall forge, counterfeit, or knowingly and wrongfullyPenalty for forging official marks, etc. alter, deface, or destroy any of the marks, stamps, or other devices provided for in the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, of any such carcasses or their products, or who shall forge, counterfeit, or knowingly and wrongfully alter, deface, or destroy any certificate provided for in said regulations, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by both said punishments in the discretion of the court.
Sec. 5. That it shall be unlawful for any person to transport fromTransporting carcasses marked unsound forbidden. one State or Territory or the District of Columbia into any other State or Territory or the District of Columbia, or for any person to deliver to another for transportation from one State or Territory or the District of Columbia into another State or Territory or the District of Columbia the carcasses of any cattle, sheep, or swine, or the food products thereof, which have been examined in accordance with the provisions of sections three and four of this act, and which Penalty.on said examination have been declared by the inspector making the same to be unsound or diseased.
Any persons violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and punished for each offense as provided in section four of this act. Sec. 6. That the inspectors provided for in sections one and twoOfficial certificates for sound meats, etc. of this act shall be authorized to give official certificates of the sound and wholesome condition of the cattle, sheep, and swine, their carcasses and products described in sections three and four of this act, and one copy of every certificate granted under the provisions of this act shall be filed in the Department of Agriculture, another copy FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
Sess. II. Chs. 555, 556. 1891.1091 shall be delivered to the owner or shipper, and when the cattle, sheep, and swine, or their carcasses and products are sent abroad, a third copy shall be delivered to the chief officer of the vessel on which the shipment shall be made. Sec. 7 That none of the provisions of this act shall be so construedNot applicable to animals killed by farmers. as to apply to any cattle, sheep, or swine slaughtered by any farmer upon his farm, which may be transported from one State or Territory or the District of Columbia into another State or Territory or the District of Columbia: *Provided, however*, That if*Proviso*.
Carcasses sent to canning establishments to be examined. the carcasses of such cattle, sheep, or swine go to any packing or canning establishment and are intended for transportation to any other State or Territory or the District of Columbia as hereinbefore provided, they shall there be subject to the post mortem examination provided for in sections three and four of this act. Approved, March 3, 1891.