Slaughterers must keep specified livestock purchase/slaughter records, make them available within 24 hours, and preserve them for at least two years.
Sec. 148.011. RECORD OF PURCHASE AND SLAUGHTER. (a) In accordance with this section, a slaughterer shall keep a record of all livestock purchased or slaughtered. Both the slaughterer and the person managing the slaughtering operations are responsible for maintaining records under this section. A person who owns or operates a locker plant and leases, rents, or furnishes space to others in that plant for profit shall keep records in accordance with this section as if that person were a slaughterer. (b) Each slaughterer shall record in a bound volume: (1) a description of the livestock by kind, color, sex, probable age, any marks and brands, and the location of any marks and brands; (2) the name and address of the person from whom the livestock was purchased or acquired or for whom the livestock was slaughtered; (3) if the livestock is delivered to the slaughterer by someone other than the slaughterer or the slaughterer's agent, the name and address of the individual delivering the livestock and the make, model, and license plate number of the vehicle in which the livestock was delivered; and (4) the date of delivery of the livestock to the slaughterer. (c) The record must be prepared and made available to the Texas Animal Health Commission and for public inspection within 24 hours after the slaughterer receives the livestock. The slaughterer shall preserve the record for at least two years and shall keep the record open for public inspection at all reasonable hours. (d) The Texas Animal Health Commission shall disseminate the provisions of this section and Section 148.063 of this code to interested persons. The commission shall carry out occasional spot checks of places maintained by slaughterers in order to determine if the provisions of this section are complied with. Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1385, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 836, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 780, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 604, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.