Virginia Law

A. If game animals are received for sale or service they shall be:

1. Commercially raised for food and raised, slaughtered, and processed under a voluntary inspection program that is conducted by the state agency that has animal health jurisdiction or under a voluntary inspection program administered by the USDA for game animals such as exotic animals (i.e., reindeer, elk, deer, antelope, water buffalo, or bison) that are "inspected and approved" in accordance with 9 CFR Part 352;^P

2. As allowed by law, for wild game animals that are live-caught:

a. Under a routine inspection program conducted by a regulatory agency such as the agency that has animal health jurisdiction;^P

b. Slaughtered and processed according to:

(1) Laws governing meat and poultry as determined by the agency that has animal health jurisdiction and the agency that conducts the inspection program;^P and

(2) Requirements that are developed by the agency that has animal health jurisdiction and the agency that conducts the inspection program with consideration of factors such as the need for antemortem and postmortem examination by an approved veterinarian or veterinarian's designee;^P or

3. As allowed by law for field-dressed wild game animals under a routine inspection program that ensures the animals:

a. Receive a postmortem examination by an approved veterinarian or veterinarian's designee; ^P

b. Are field-dressed and transported according to requirements specified by the agency that has animal health jurisdiction and the agency that conducts the inspection program;^P and

c. Are processed according to laws governing meat and poultry as determined by the agency that has animal health jurisdiction and the agency that conducts the inspection program.^P

B. A game animal may not be received for sale or service if it is a species of wildlife that is listed in 50 CFR Part 17.

C. The requirements of subsection A of this section shall not apply to commercially slaughtered or processed rabbits that are offered for sale or service.

D. Commercially slaughtered or processed rabbits that are offered for sale or service shall be packaged with a label that complies with 2VAC5-585-900 B and includes the following information:

1. Producer number;

2. Safe handling instructions, as required by 9 CFR 317.2(l) and 9 CFR 381.125(b);

3. An identifying code that is permanently visible to the naked eye to aid in traceback throughout sale and distribution; and

4. The statement: "WARNING: EXEMPT FROM CARCASS INSPECTION. PREPARED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE VIRGINIA RABBIT PROGRAM." on the principal display panel.

E. An entity commercially slaughtering or processing rabbits that are offered for sale or service may elect to participate in a voluntary inspection program that is conducted by the state agency that has animal health jurisdiction or a voluntary inspection program that is administered by USDA. The requirements of subsection D of this section shall not apply to commercially slaughtered or processed rabbits that are offered for sale or service that bear a mark of inspection and that are under a voluntary inspection program that is conducted by the state agency that has animal health jurisdiction or that is administered by USDA.