Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) Act , 1930

PRELIMINARY.

1 Short title.

1.—This Act may be cited as the Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) Act, 1930.

2 Commencement of this Act.

2.—(1) This Act, in so far as it applies or relates to beef, veal and the offals of cattle, shall come into operation on such day as shall be fixed for that purpose by order of the Minister.

(2) This Act, in so far as it applies or relates to pork and the offals of pigs, shall come into operation on such day as shall be fixed for that purpose, by order of the Minister.

(3) This Act, in so far as it applies or relates to mutton and lamb and the offals of sheep, shall come into operation on such day as shall be fixed for that purpose by order of the Minister.

(4) This Act, in so far as it applies or relates to horse-flesh and the offals of horses, shall come into operation on such day as shall be fixed for that purpose by order of the Minister.

(5) This Act, in so far as it applies or relates to goat-flesh and the offals of goats, shall come into operation on such day as shall be fixed for that purpose, by order of the Minister.

(6) This Act, in so far as it applies or relates to dead rabbits, shall come into operation on such day as shall be fixed for that purpose by order of the Minister.

(7) This Act, in so far as it applies or relates to dead poultry, shall come into operation on such day as shall be fixed for that purpose by order of the Minister.

3 Definitions.

3.—In this Act—

the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Agriculture;

the word “inspector” includes any person authorised in writing (either generally or for a special purpose) by the Minister to exercise all or any of the powers and perform all or any of the duties conferred or imposed on an inspector by this Act;

the expression “veterinary examiner” means a person appointed by the Minister to be a veterinary examiner for the purposes of this Act;

the expression “veterinary inspector” means an officer of the Minister authorised in writing (either generally or for a special purpose) by the Minister to exercise all or any of the powers and perform all or any of the duties conferred or imposed on a veterinary inspector by this Act;

the expression “local slaughter-house authority” means the local authority having in the place in relation to which the expression is used powers of registering and licensing slaughter-houses;

the expression “local sanitary authority” means a sanitary authority for the purpose of the Public Health (Ireland) Acts, 1878 to 1919, as amended by the Local Government Acts, 1925 and 1927;

the word “cattle” means and includes a bull, cow, bullock, heifer and calf;

the word “pig” means and includes a boar, sow, hog and bonham;

the word “sheep” means and includes a ram, ewe, wether and lamb;

the word “horse” means and includes a stallion, mare, gelding, foal colt and filly;

the word “goat” means and includes a male goat, a female goat, and a kid;

the word “animals” means and includes cattle, pigs, sheep, horses and goats;

the expression “fresh meat” means and includes beef, veal, pork, mutton and lamb, horse-flesh and goat-flesh;

the word “offals” means and includes all entrails, fat and parts of an animal other than the dressed carcase which are capable of use for food for human consumption;

the word “rabbit” includes a Belgian hare;

the word “poultry” means and includes domestic fowls, turkeys, geese and ducks;

the word “consignment” includes the whole or one or more portions of a dressed carcase for export;

the word “package” includes any wrapper, case, container, cask or other receptacle containing or capable of containing offals for export;

the word “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made under this Act.

Part I. Registration of Premises and Licensing of Exporters.

4 Definitions in relation to Part I.

4.—In this Part of this Act and in the Schedule to this Act—

the word “year” means the period of twelve months commencing on any 1st day of July in any year and ending on the next following 30th day of June;

the expression “half-year” means a period of six months commencing either on the 1st day of July or the 1st day of January.

5 Registers of premises to be kept by Minister.

5.—(1) The Minister shall cause to be kept—

(a) a register (to be called and known as the register of cattle slaughtering premises) of premises in Saorstát Eireann in which the business of slaughtering cattle and of preparing and packing for export beef and veal and offals of cattle is carried on; and

(b) a register (to be called and known as the register of pig slaughtering premises) of premises in Saorstát Eireann in which the business of slaughtering pigs and of preparing and packing for export pork or the offals of pigs or both pork and the offals of pigs is carried on; and

(c) a register (to be called and known as the register of sheep slaughtering premises) of premises in Saorstát Eireann in which the business of slaughtering sheep and of preparing and packing for export mutton and lamb and the offals of sheep is carried on; and

(d) a register (to be called and known as the register of horse slaughtering premises) of premises in Saorstát Eireann in which the business of slaughtering horses and of preparing and packing for export horse-flesh and the offals of horses is carried on; and

(e) a register (to be called and known as the register of goat slaughtering premises) of premises in Saorstát Eireann in which the business of slaughtering goats and of preparing and packing for export goat-flesh and the offals of goats is carried on; and

(f) a register (to be called and known as the register of crating premises) of premises in Saorstát Eireann in which the business of crating for export beef, pork, mutton and lamb or any of them and no other business is carried on.

(2) There shall be entered in the said registers in respect of all premises registered therein the following particulars, that is to say:—

(a) the full name and description of the proprietor (in this Act referred to as the registered proprietor) of the premises; and

(b) a description of the situation of the premises sufficient to identify the same and the limits and extent thereof.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act in relation to the registration of premises in any particular register, premises registered in the register of cattle slaughtering premises, or in the register of pig slaughtering premises, or in the register of sheep slaughtering premises or in the register of goat slaughtering premises shall be capable of being registered in any other or others of those registers but shall not be capable of being registered in the register of horse slaughtering premises or the register of crating premises.

(4) Premises registered in the register of horse slaughtering premises and premises registered in the register of crating premises shall not be capable of being registered in any other register.

(5) In this Act premises registered in the register of cattle slaughtering premises, premises registered in the register of pig slaughtering premises, premises registered in the register of sheep slaughtering premises, premises registered in the register of horse slaughtering premises, premises registered in the register of goat slaughtering premises and premises registered in the register of crating premises are referred to respectively as registered cattle slaughtering premises, registered pig slaughtering premises, registered sheep slaughtering premises, registered horse slaughtering premises, registered goat slaughtering premises and registered crating premises.

(6) In this Act—

the expression “registered premises” means premises registered in any register kept by the Minister in pursuance of this section:

the expression “register of slaughtering premises” means and includes any register kept by the Minister in pursuance of this section other than the register of crating premises; and

the expression “registered slaughtering premises” means and includes premises registered in any register of slaughtering premises.

6 Conditions of registration of slaughtering premises.

6.—(1) The Minister shall, before registering premises in any register of slaughtering premises, be satisfied that such premises comply with the following conditions (in this Act referred to as the general conditions of cleanliness and suitability of slaughtering premises), that is to say:—

(a) that such premises and the equipment, fittings and appliances therein are in a state of cleanliness and good repair; and

(b) that such premises are situated in such a position and used in such a manner as to prevent the exposure of fresh meat and offals prepared therein to any effluvium from any drain, cesspool, refuse heap or other source of contamination; and

(c) that such premises are provided with adequate facilities for the proper disposal of blood, washings and waste; and

(d) that there is available on such premises such adequate supply of good and wholesome water as may from time to time be reasonably necessary; and

(e) that adequate facilities are provided on such premises for the veterinary examination of animals ante mortem and post mortem and of the viscera thereof; and

(f) that locked up accommodation is provided on such premises for the safe custody of certificates, marks, records and equipment; and

(g) that adequate facilities are provided on or in respect of such premises for the penning and resting of animals before slaughter.

(2) Before registering any premises in a register of slaughtering premises the Minister shall also be satisfied that the following conditions (in this Act referred to as the particular conditions of suitability of slaughtering premises) are complied with, that is to say:—

(a) that such premises are structurally suited for carrying on the business of slaughtering the particular class of animal for the slaughter of which such premises are proposed to be registered and of preparing for export fresh meat and offals derived from that class of animal; and

(b) that such premises are equipped with the plant and equipment prescribed for premises registered in the register in which such premises are proposed to be registered; and

(c) that there are employed on such premises one or more persons skilled in the slaughtering of the animals for the slaughter of which such premises are proposed to be registered and preparing the fresh meat and offals derived from such animals.

(3) The Minister shall, before registering premises in any register of slaughtering premises, consult the local slaughter-house authority (if any) concerning such registration.

7 Conditions of registration of crating premises.

7.—The Minister shall, before registering premises in the register of crating premises, be satisfied that such premises comply with the following conditions (in this Act referred to as the conditions of cleanliness and suitability of crating premises), that is to say:—

(a) that such premises are structurally suited for carrying on the business of crating pork, mutton and lamb for export; and

(b) that such premises and crates and materials used for crating are in a state of cleanliness and good repair; and

(c) that such premises are situated in such a position and used in such a manner as to prevent the exposure of fresh meat crated therein to any cause of contamination or deterioration.

8 Application for registration of premises.

8.—(1) Every application for the registration of any premises under this Part of this Act shall be made by the proprietor thereof in writing in the prescribed form and manner and shall contain the prescribed particulars.

(2) Whenever an application is made under this section for the registration of any premises, the Minister shall cause such premises to be inspected by an inspector.

(3) Before refusing an application for the registration of any premises under this Part of this Act, the Minister shall send by post to the applicant at his address as stated in the application one fortnight's notice of the Minister's intention to refuse such application and of the reasons for such refusal and shall consider any representations made by the applicant before the expiration of such notice.

9 Fees payable in respect of registration of premises.

9.—There shall be paid to the Minister by the person applying for the registration of premises in any register kept in pursuance of this Part of this Act the fee of one pound and the payment of such fee shall be a condition precedent to the entertainment of the application by the Minister.

10 Provisional registration of slaughtering premises.

10.—(1) Where an application is made, before or within twelve months after the commencement of this Act, for the registration of any premises in a register of slaughtering premises and the Minister is not satisfied that such premises comply with the general conditions of cleanliness and suitability of slaughtering premises or the appropriate particular conditions of suitability of slaughtering premises the Minister may, if he so thinks fit, provisionally register such premises in such register for such period not exceeding twelve months as he shall think proper and shall specify at the time of such registration.

(2) Premises provisionally registered under this section in a register of slaughtering premises shall, while they continue to be so registered, be deemed for all the purposes of this Act to be registered in such register in accordance with this Act and this Act shall apply to and have effect in relation to such premises accordingly.

(3) Where any premises are provisionally registered under this section in a register of slaughtering premises and the Minister, before the expiration of the period for which such premises were so registered, is satisfied that such premises have been brought into compliance with the general conditions of cleanliness and suitability of slaughtering premises and the appropriate particular conditions of suitability of slaughtering premises, he may, before the expiration of the said period, confirm such provisional registration, and thereupon such premises shall become and be registered in such register as fully in all respects as if they had, on the date of such provisional registration, been registered in such register under this Part of this Act other than this section.

(4) Where any premises are provisionally registered under this section in a register of slaughtering premises and such provisional registration is not confirmed under this section before the expiration of the period for which such premises were so registered, such premises shall, at the expiration of the said period, cease to be registered in, and shall be removed from such register and shall not again be provisionally registered under this section in such register.

11 Registered licensees of registered slaughtering premises.

11.—(1) Where a person who is not the registered proprietor of particular registered slaughtering premises has entered into an agreement with the registered proprietor of such premises whereby such registered proprietor agrees to permit such person to use such premises for the purpose of slaughtering animals which are the property of such person and of the kind for the slaughter of which such premises are registered and preparing and packing therein for export the fresh meat and offals derived from such animals the Minister may, upon the application of such person and after consultation with the local slaughterhouse authority (if any) enter in respect of such premises in the register of slaughtering premises in which such premises are registered the full name and address of such person, and a person whose name and address are for the time being so entered in respect of any such premises is in this Act referred to as a registered licensee of such premises.

(2) Every application for registration as a registered licensee under this section shall be in the prescribed form and shall contain the prescribed particulars.

(3) There shall be paid to the Minister by every person applying for registration as a registered licensee under this section the fee of one pound and the payment of such fee shall be a condition precedent to the entertainment of the application by the Minister.

(4) An entry made under this section in any register kept in pursuance of this Part of this Act of any person as registered licensee of premises registered in such register shall be removed from such register on the determination of the agreement in virtue of which such person was entered as registered licensee of such premises.

12 Licensed exporters.

12.—(1) The Minister may grant, in respect of any premises registered in the register of cattle slaughtering premises, to any person who is either the registered proprietor or a registered licensee of such premises a licence (in this Act referred to as a beef exporter's licence) in the prescribed form to export beef and veal and the offals of cattle.

In this Act the expression “licensed beef exporter” means a person who is for the time being the holder of a beef exporter's licence for the time being in force.

(2) The Minister may grant, in respect of any premises registered in the register of pig slaughtering premises, to any person who is either the registered proprietor or a registered licensee of such premises a licence (in this Act referred to as a pork exporter's licence) in the prescribed form to export pork and the offals of pigs.

In this Act the expression “licensed pork exporter” means a person who is for the time being the holder of a pork exporter's licence for the time being in force.

(3) The Minister may grant, in respect of any premises registered in the register of sheep slaughtering premises, to any person who is either the registered proprietor or a registered licensee of such premises a licence (in this Act referred to as a mutton exporter's licence) in the prescribed form to export mutton and lamb and the offals of sheep.

In this Act the expression “licensed mutton exporter” means a person who is for the time being the holder of a mutton exporter's licence for the time being in force.

(4) The Minister may grant, in respect of any premises registered in the register of horse slaughtering premises, to any person who is either the registered proprietor or a registered licensee of such premises a licence (in this Act referred to as a horse-flesh exporter's licence) in the prescribed form to export horse-flesh and the offals of horses.

In this Act the expression “licensed horse-flesh exporter” means a person who is for the time being the holder of a horseflesh exporter's licence for the time being in force.