REGULATORY SERVICES
The goal of the department's meat and poultry program is to ensure the
production of a safe, wholesome, and truthfully labeled meat/poultry product
as well as humane treatment of the animals that are processed.
The Office of Meat and Poultry Services (OMPS) is a state-run meat/poultry inspection program. OMPS administers the Virginia Meat and Poultry Products Inspection Act, the Federal Meat Inspection Act, and the Poultry Products Inspection Act. VDACS has also adopted the federal regulations (CFR 9, Parts 301 - 500) by reference. Virginia's program maintains an "equal to" status with the federal program. OMPS also participates in a Talmadge/Aiken Cooperative inspection program. This program allows USDA to utilize Virginia state inspection personnel to staff Federally inspected establishments.
OMPS responsibilities
include:
evaluating animals before slaughter; enforcing humane
slaughter regulations; inspecting carcasses and viscera after slaughter;
collecting laboratory samples for antibiotic residue and food borne pathogen
analyses; verifying the establishment's food safety system; reviewing plant facilities and equipment; ensuring that products are properly packaged
and labeled before shipment; reviewing custom and poultry exempt operations; and monitoring meat and poultry products in commerce to ensure they are inspected properly labeled and not adulterated.
The Office of Meat and Poultry Services has a headquarters office and four regional offices strategically located throughout the state. Please consult the DIRECTORY to contact us for information on:
- Meat and poultry definitions
- Obtaining state meat and poultry inspection
- Inspection of Meat and Poultry Products
- Custom Permit of Exemption
- Permit of Poultry Exemption
- Virginia Meat and Poultry Products Inspection Act
- Health hazards from meat and poultry products
- Basic Facts SSOP and HACCP
- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)
- Establishment Design and Construction Guidebook
VDACS & USDA prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color national origin, sex, religion, age, disability political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the two Departments. To file a complaint of discrimination, write or call: OMPS 102 Governor Street , Richmond , VA 23218 Phone 804.786.4569 (voice) or 800.828.1120 (TDD) or USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW , Washington , DC 20250-9410 800.795.3272 (voice) or 202.720.6382 (TDD).