Food Safety Is Not a Department u2014 It Is Our Culture
From the veterinary inspector at animal reception to the final seal on every vacuum-packed carton, food safety protocols govern every action taken on our production floor.
Comprehensive Food Safety at Every Step
HACCP System
Fully documented Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points program. The system identifies biological, chemical, and physical hazards at every processing step, establishing CCPs, critical limits, and corrective actions. Reviewed annually and subject to third-party audits.
Ante-Mortem & Post-Mortem Inspection
All animals are subject to mandatory ante-mortem inspection by government-licensed veterinarians before entering the slaughter line. Post-mortem inspection of all carcasses is performed by official INAC inspectors. Only carcasses stamped fit for human consumption are cleared for export.
Temperature Control & Cold Chain
Calibrated electronic data loggers monitor temperatures in all processing areas, chillers, freezers, and shipping containers. Records are retained for buyer or authority audit. Blast freezing protocol ensures frozen product reaches −18°C core within defined timeframes.
Microbiological Testing
Regular microbiological testing per INAC requirements and internal quality programs. Sampling covers E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, aerobic plate counts, and other relevant pathogens. Results are documented and form part of product release decisions.
Residue Control & Drug-Free
Uruguay’s National Residue Control Plan (administered by MGAP) monitors beef for veterinary drug residues, pesticides, heavy metals, and environmental contaminants. US-bound products comply with USDA National Residue Program. We only source animals enrolled in the national traceability and residue monitoring program.
Full Traceability (SNIG)
Uruguay’s mandatory SNIG system assigns electronic ear tags to every bovine at birth. Sirsil SA integrates with SNIG to maintain full lot traceability on all exported products. In the event of a product query, we can identify the source animal, farm, and processing date within minutes.
Good Manufacturing Practices Enforced Throughout
Personnel hygiene protocols include mandatory handwashing, protective clothing, footbath procedures on zone entry, and health screening. Knives and tools are sanitized between uses. Facility sanitation follows documented cleaning and disinfection schedules verified by internal and external audits.
Request an Audit VisitA Food Safety System Built for the World’s Most Demanding Importers
International beef buyers — supplying supermarket chains in Germany, hotel groups in the UAE, or food distributors in China — require more than a product that meets minimum standards. They require a supplier whose entire production system is designed around food safety from the moment an animal arrives at the gate to the moment a container is sealed and dispatched.
At Frigorifico Sirsil SA, food safety is not a department or a checklist. It is the operational backbone of everything we do. Our facility operates under continuous on-site veterinary inspection by MGAP-INAC certified official veterinarians, and every production lot is subject to microbiological testing, residue monitoring, and SNIG traceability verification before release for export.
Uruguay’s beef inspection system is simultaneously approved by the United States (USDA-FSIS), the European Union, China (GACC), and major Middle Eastern authorities — making it one of only a handful of countries that can supply all four major regulatory environments from the same production line.
Our Food Safety Standards at a Glance
What Our Certifications Mean for Your Business
USDA-FSIS Approval
Every US-bound shipment carries official MGAP/INAC health certificates conforming to USDA-FSIS import requirements.
HACCP Certification
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points documented and audited. Documentation available for supplier qualification processes.
GACC Registration (China)
Direct export to China without third-country re-inspection. Our GACC establishment number appears on all China-bound packaging.
EU Veterinary Approval
Eligible for EU market entry including Hilton Quota chilled beef. Health certificates conforming to EU model certificate requirements on every EU shipment.
Halal Certification
Dedicated Halal production under continuous Islamic authority supervision. Certificates issued per shipment for Muslim markets globally.
Kosher Certification
Rabbinical supervision and Kashrut certificates for Jewish diaspora and Israeli market buyers, with full separation protocols throughout.
Documentation on every shipment
Commercial invoice, packing list, official veterinary health certificate, certificate of origin, SNIG traceability reference, and applicable Halal, Kosher, or Hilton Quota certificates provided as standard.
Supplier audits welcome
We welcome facility audits and supplier qualification visits from buyers, QA teams, and third-party audit bodies with full access to processing areas, documentation systems, and HACCP records.