The Meat Products (Hygiene) Regulations 1994

Establishments manufacturing other products of animal origin may be used for the production of products not intended for human consumption only under the following conditions:

• (a) raw materials unfit for human consumption shall be stored in a completely separate room or separate reception area;

• (b) they shall be processed in separate rooms using separate installations and equipment, except where the processing takes place in completely enclosed installations or is carried out with equipment used exclusively for this purpose;

• (c) the final products from these raw materials shall be stored in a different room or separate tanks which are labelled appropriately and shall not go for human consumption.

PART II — SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR RENDERED ANIMAL FATS, GREAVES AND BY-PRODUCTS

In addition to the conditions in Schedule 1, the following conditions apply.

Standards applicable to premises collecting or processing raw materials

A

1

Centres for the collection of raw materials and further transport to processing premises shall be equipped with a cold store to store raw materials at a temperature of 7°C or less, unless the raw materials are collected and rendered within the time limits laid down in paragraph B(c)(ii) and (iii) below.

2

The processing premises shall have at least:

• (a) a cold store, unless the raw materials are collected and rendered within the time limits laid down in paragraph B(c)(ii) and (iii) below;

• (b) a room or place to receive raw materials;

• (c) an installation to facilitate the visual inspection of raw materials;

• (d) if appropriate, an installation to crush raw materials;

• (e) equipment for the rendering of raw materials by heat or pressure or other appropriate method;

• (f) containers or tanks in which the fat can be kept in liquid state;

• (g) apparatus for plastification or crystallisation of the fat to facilitate market preparation and packaging, unless the establishment dispatches liquid rendered animal fat only;

• (h) a dispatch room, unless the establishment dispatches melted animal fat only by means of tankers;

• (i) watertight containers for the disposal of raw materials unfit for human consumption;

• (j) if appropriate, suitable equipment for the preparation of products consisting of rendered animal fat mixed with other foodstuffs and/or seasonings;

• (k) if greaves are produced, suitable facilities ensuring their hygienic collection, wrapping and packaging and storage under the conditions laid down in paragraph B(i) below.

Additional hygiene requirements relating to the preparation of rendered animal fat, greaves and by-products

B

1

Raw materials shall originate from animals which received ante and post mortem inspection and the raw materials were found fit for human consumption.

2

The raw materials shall consist of adipose tissues or bones found fit for human consumption and which are reasonably free from blood and impurities. They shall not show signs of deterioration and shall be obtained under hygienic conditions.

3

Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5 below, for the preparation of rendered animal fat, only adipose tissues or bones, collected at slaughterhouses, cutting plants or meat products premises shall be used. Raw materials shall be transported and stored until rendering in hygienic conditions and at an internal temperature of 7°C or less.

4

Raw materials may be stored and transported unrefrigerated provided that they are rendered within twelve hours after the day on which they were obtained.

5

Raw materials collected at retail shops or in premises adjacent to sales points, where the cutting and the storage of meat or poultry meat is performed for the sole purpose of supplying the final consumer directly, may be used for the preparation of rendered animal fat, provided they are in a satisfactory hygienic condition and properly packed. When the raw materials are collected daily the temperature requirements laid down in paragraph 3 above shall be complied with. If the raw materials are not collected daily, they shall be refrigerated immediately after they have been obtained.

6

Vehicles and containers for the collection and transport of raw materials shall have smooth internal surfaces, easy to wash, clean and disinfect and vehicles shall be adequately covered. Vehicles for refrigerated transport shall have been designed in such a way that the temperature required can be maintained throughout the period of transport.

7

Before rendering, raw materials shall be inspected for the presence of raw materials unfit for human consumption, or extraneous matter. When present these shall be removed.

8

Raw materials shall be rendered by heat, pressure or other appropriate method, followed by separation of the fat by decantation, centrifugation, filtration or other appropriate method. The use of dissolvents is prohibited.

9

Rendered animal fat which is prepared in accordance with the foregoing paragraphs may for the production of raw materials be refined in the same or other premises to improve its physico-chemical quality when the fat for refining satisfies the standards laid down in paragraph 10 below.

10

Rendered animal fat, depending on type, shall meet the following standards:

11

Greaves intended for human consumption shall be stored:

• (a) when rendered at a temperature of 70°C or less: at a temperature of less than 7°C for a period not exceeding 24 hours or at −18°C or lower;

• (b) when rendered at a temperature of more than 70°C and having a moisture content of 10% (m/m) or more either:

• at a temperature of less than 7°C for a period not exceeding 48 hours or at a time/ temperature ratio offering an equivalent guarantee, or

• at −18deg;C or lower;

• (c) when rendered at a temperature of more than 70°C and having a moisture content of less than 10% (m/m): no specific requirement.

PART III — SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR STOMACHS BLADDERS AND INTESTINES

In addition to the conditions in Schedule 1, premises treating stomachs, bladders and intestines shall comply with the following conditions.

1 Premises, instruments and tools shall be used only for work on the products concerned; there shall be a clear division between clean and unclean sections;

2 The use of wood is forbidden; however the use of wooden pallets is authorised for the transport of the containers of the products concerned;

3 Premises shall be provided for storing, wrapping and packaging materials;

4 Wrapping and packaging shall take place under hygienic conditions in a room or in a place intended for that purpose;

5 Products which cannot be kept at ambient temperature shall be stored until their despatch in premises intended for that purpose; In particular, products which are not salted or dried shall be kept at a temperature not exceeding 3°C.

6 Raw materials shall be transported from the slaughterhouse of origin to the premises under satisfactory hygiene conditions and, where appropriate having regard to the period between slaughter and the collection of the raw materials, refrigerated. Vehicles and containers for transporting such materials shall have smooth internal surfaces which are easy to wash, clean and disinfect. Vehicles for refrigerated transport shall have been designed in such a way that the temperature required can be maintained throughout the period of transport.

Signed

Angela Browning — Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food — 17th November 1994

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health

Cumberlege — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health — 17th November 1994

Hector Monro — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Scottish Office — 17th November 1994

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Wales

Gwilym Jones — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Welsh Office — 21st November 1994

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement Council Directive 92/5/EEC (OJ No. L57, 2.3.92, p.1)(“the Directive”) amending and updating Directive 77/99/EEC (OJ No. L26, 31.1.77, p.85) on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in meat products and amending Directive 64/433/EEC (OJ No. 121, 29.7.64, (OJ/SE 1963-64 p.185)), as amended by Article 14(3) of Council Directive 92/45/EEC (OJ No. L268, 14.9.92, p.35) read with Commission Decision 94/383/EC (OJ No. L174, 8.7.94, p.33). The Regulations relate to States (other than Iceland) in the European Economic Area. This is by reason of the EEA Agreement (at OJ L1, 3.1.94) and Decision No. 7/94 of the EEA Joint Committee (see Annex 2 at OJ L160/13, 28.6.94).

The Regulations do not apply to establishments handling or storing meat products or other products of animal origin exclusively for sale from those establishments to the final consumer, or to the staff of such establishments or to the transporting of meat products to the final consumer (regulation 3).

The Regulations—

• (a) require premises that handle or store meat products to be approved under and comply with the Regulations by 1st January 1996; from the date on which the Regulations come into force meat products may only be despatched to a relevant EEA State from approved premises; approvals will be granted on written application to the approval authority, subject to satisfaction of appropriate conditions (regulations 4 and 5);

• (b) make provision for the revocation of approvals (regulation 6);

• (c) provide a right of appeal (regulation 7);

• (d) specify conditions to be complied with in relation to the sale of meat products for human consumption (regulation 8);

• (e) specify requirements as to wrapping, packaging and labelling of meat products (regulation 9);

• (f) specify requirements as to health marking of meat products and indication of storage temperature and durability (regulations 10 and 11);

• (g) specify requirements as to storage and transportation of meat products (regulation 12);

• (h) specify duties of the occupier of an establishment (regulation 13);

• (j) specify conditions for the sale of any prepared food (other than a meat-based prepared meal) obtained from raw material of animal origin (regulation 14);

• (k) prohibit the manufacture of other products of animal origin except in accordance with specified conditions and also specify the conditions for the marketing and transportation of such products (regulations 15 to 17);

• (l) make transitional provision for the use of premises, tools and equipment used for the preparation of meat products bearing an EC health mark, for the production of other specified products in pursuance of derogations provided by Directive 91/498/EEC (OJ No. L268, 24.9.91, p.105)(regulation 18);

• (m) require enforcement authorities to supervise establishments and to enforce and execute the Regulations (regulation 19);

• (n) create offences and prescribe penalties (regulation 20);

• (o) apply specified provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990, including the defence of due diligence (regulation 21);

• (p) require food authorities to provide specified information to the Minister (regulation 22); and

• (q) make provision for the sale of meat products and other products of animal origin from Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands and amend specified Regulations (regulations 23 and 24).

The approval authority (defined in regulation 2) is the food authority, except for certain meat products premises which are combined with other premises (and are accordingly defined as “combined premises” in that regulation), for which approvals will be granted centrally.

The enforcement authority is the food authority until 31st March 1995. Thereafter the Minister becomes the enforcement authority for combined premises, but not for other premises (regulation 19).

A Compliance Cost Assessment in relation to these Regulations has been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament and copies can be obtained from the Meat Hygiene Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Government Buildings, Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 7NF.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1990 c. 16; “the Ministers” is defined in section 4(1) of the Act.

[^f00002]: S.I. 1989/2061, amended by S.I. 1990/2486, 1992/306, 1994/2628.

[^f00003]: S.I. 1990/112, amended by S.I. 1990/2625, 1992/158, 1994/2544.

[^f00004]: S.I. 1984/1306; relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1990/2488.

[^f00005]: S.I. 1984/1519; relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1990/2506.

[^f00006]: S.I. 1992/2037.

[^f00007]: S.I. 1994/1029.

[^f00008]: Directive 64/433/EEC has been amended and consolidated by Directive 91/497/EEC (OJ No. L268, 24.9.91, p.69).

[^f00009]: OJ No. L55, 8.3.71, p.23, amended and replaced by Council Directive 92/116/EEC (OJ No. L62, 15.3.93, p.1).

[^f00010]: OJ No. L302, 31.12.72, p.24 (OJ/SE 1972 (31 December) p.3).

[^f00011]: OJ No. L302, 31.12.72, p.28 (OJ/SE 1972 (31 December) p.7).

[^f00012]: OJ No. L382, 31.12.88, p.3.

[^f00013]: OJ No. L268, 24.9.91, p.41.

[^f00014]: OJ No. L268, 14.9.92, p.35.

[^f00015]: S.I. 1970/1172, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

[^f00016]: S.I. 1959/413, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

[^f00017]: S.I. 1984/1566, relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1985/987, 1990/2486, 1991/1476.

[^f00018]: S.I. 1984/1714, relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1986/1288, 1990/2625, 1991/1476.

[^f00019]: OJ No. L229, 30.8.80, p.11.

[^f00020]: OJ No. L302, 31.12.72, p.28 (OJ/SE 1972 (31 December) p.7).

[^f00021]: 1981 c. 22.

[^f00022]: S.I. 1992/2037.

[^f00023]: OJ No. L268, 24.9.91, p.105.

[^f00024]: S.I. 1960/1602; relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1994/1029.

[^f00025]: S.I. 1966/791; relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1994/1029.

[^f00026]: S.I. 1970/1172; relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1994/1029.

[^f00027]: S.I. 1991/2825; relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1994/1029.

[^f00028]: OJ No. L268, 24.9.91, p.105.

[^f00029]: OJ No. L302, 30.12.72, p.28.

[^f00030]: OJ No. L373, 31.12.90, p.1.

[^f00031]: OJ No. L382, 31.12.88, p.3.

[^f00032]: S.I. 1991/2825; amended by S.I. 1992/2037, 1993/2022, 1994/1029.

[^f00033]: OJ No. L40, 11.2.89, p.38.

[^f00034]: OJ No. L229, 30.8.80, p.11.

[^f00041]: Rendered animal fat obtained by the low-temperature rendering of fresh fat from the heart, caul, kidneys and mesentery of bovine animals, and fat from cutting rooms.

[^f00042]: Fresh fat obtained from rendering the adipose tissues of swine.