The Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995

• (b) notwithstanding sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, the room used for the slaughter of birds or rabbits may also be used for the evisceration and preparation of such birds or rabbits after such room has been cleaned thoroughly and disinfected after its use for each such operation, so as to minimise the risk of any contamination of meat.

PART III — LOW THROUGHPUT CUTTING PREMISES CARRYING OUT DELAYED EVISCERATION – ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

12

In addition to the general requirements contained in Part I of this Schedule, low throughput cutting premises carrying out delayed evisceration shall meet the requirements contained in Schedule 3 to these Regulations save that, notwithstanding the requirement set out in paragraph 1 of Schedule 3, the room used for cutting up, boning and wrapping of birds may also be used for the evisceration and preparation of birds provided that the room has been cleaned thoroughly and disinfected following its use for each such operation, so as to minimise the risk of contamination of meat.

SCHEDULE 6 — HYGIENE REQUIREMENTS IN RELATION TO STAFF, PREMISES, EQUIPMENT AND IMPLEMENTS

Requirements applicable to all premises

1

The occupier of any premises shall keep them, or cause them to be kept, in such a state of cleanliness and otherwise so conduct them as to prevent any risk of contamination of any fresh meat therein.

2

• (a) Staff handling exposed or wrapped fresh meat or working in rooms and areas in which such meat is handled, or transported shall wear clean and easily cleanable headgear, footwear and light-coloured working clothes or other protective clothing. Staff engaged in working on or handling fresh meat shall wear clean working clothes at the commencement of each working day and shall renew such clothing during the day as necessary and wash their hands several times during the working day and each time work is resumed. Persons who have been in contact with sick birds or sick rabbits or infected meat shall immediately afterwards carefully wash their hands and arms with hot water. No person shall smoke in work rooms and store rooms and in other areas and corridors through which fresh meat is transported.

• (b) No animal shall be allowed to enter the establishments except, in the case of slaughterhouses, animals for slaughter. Rodents, insects and other vermin shall be systematically destroyed.

• (c) Equipment and instruments used for handling live birds or rabbits and working on fresh meat shall be kept clean and in a good state of repair. They shall be carefully cleaned and disinfected several times during the working day, at the end of the day’s work and before being re-used when they have been soiled.

• (d) Crates for delivering birds or rabbits shall be made of non-corrodible material, easy to clean and disinfect. They shall be cleaned and disinfected each time they are emptied.

3

Rooms, instruments and working equipment shall not be used for purposes other than work on fresh meat or fresh meat within the meaning of regulation 2(1) of the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995[^f00026] or wild game meat within the meaning of Council Directive 92/45/EEC or meat preparations or products unless they are cleaned and disinfected before re-use. However, this restriction shall not apply to transport equipment used in relation to meat which is packaged.

4

Meat and containers thereof shall not come into direct contact with the floor.

5

Potable water shall be used for all purposes; however, non-potable water may be used for steam production, fire fighting, cooling refrigeration equipment and removing waste feathers in the slaughterhouse provided that the pipes installed for this purpose preclude the use of such water for other purposes and present no danger of contamination of fresh meat.

6

Sawdust or any other similar substance shall not be spread on the floor of the workrooms or fresh meat storage rooms.

7

Detergents, disinfectants and similar substances shall be used in such a way that instruments, working equipment and fresh meat are not adversely affected. Their use shall be followed by thorough rinsing of such instruments and working equipment with potable water, as necessary, except where the disinfectant or similar substance is specially designed not to be rinsed after application.

9

On being recruited, any person working on or handling unpackaged fresh meat shall be required to prove, by a medical certificate, that there is no objection on public health grounds to his engagement in such activities and every such medical certificate shall be produced on request to an official veterinary surgeon or to a veterinary officer.

SCHEDULE 7 — PRE-SLAUGHTER HEALTH INSPECTION

1

Subject to paragraph 2 below, the official veterinary surgeon shall authorise the slaughter of a specified group from a holding where—

• (a) the birds or rabbits intended for slaughter are accompanied by a health attestation in the form specified in Schedule 17; or

• (b) not less than 72 hours before the arrival of such birds or rabbits at the slaughterhouse, the official veterinary surgeon was in possession of—

• (i) a declaration from a veterinary surgeon that the holding is under his supervision, and

• (ii) the information specified in Part I of Schedule 22 relating to the birds or rabbits in question, ascertained from the records kept by the producer of those birds or rabbits, as the case may be, and set out in a report signed or otherwise authenticated by that producer;

• (iii) such additional information, as the official veterinary surgeon may request, relating to such birds or rabbits which may include the details specified in Part II of Schedule 22.

2

The official veterinary surgeon shall assess the information referred to in paragraph 1(b) above, supplied by the producer, in determining the steps to be taken with regard to the birds or rabbits coming from the holding of that producer, in particular the type of any pre-slaughter health inspection to be carried out on such birds or rabbits.

3

Where the conditions specified in paragraph 1 above are not satisfied, the official veterinary surgeon of the slaughterhouse may—

• (a) postpone the slaughter, or

• (b) where he feels it necessary to do so for reasons of animal welfare—

• (i) authorise the slaughter after an inspection of the birds or rabbits in accordance with paragraph 7(b) below, and

• (ii) arrange for an inspection by an official veterinary surgeon or the veterinary surgeon referred to in paragraph 1(b)(i) above, of the holding of origin of the birds or rabbits in question to ascertain the information referred to in paragraph 1(b) above.

4

In the case of producers who annually fatten or rear not more than 20,000 domestic fowl, 15,000 ducks, 10,000 turkeys, 10,000 geese, 20,000 rabbits, or an equivalent quantity of other species of bird, the pre-slaughter inspection may be carried out at the slaughterhouse. In such case the producer shall provide a declaration to the effect that his annual production does not exceed the said figures.

5

The producer shall retain the records referred to in paragraph 7(a) below for a period of two years from the date to which such records relate and upon demand by the Minister submit them to the Minister.

6

The pre-slaughter health inspection shall be carried out in adequate lighting.

7

The pre-slaughter health inspection of birds and rabbits on their farm of origin shall comprise—

• (a) checking of the producers' records which, depending on the type of birds or rabbits, shall include the following, save that the details specified at items (iv), (viii) and (xii) shall not be required unless specified in writing by the Minister in relation to any particular birds or rabbits:

• (i) day of arrival of the birds or rabbits,

• (ii) source of the birds or rabbits,

• (iii) number of birds or rabbits,

• (iv) actual performance of the particular breeds (e.g. weight gain),

• (v) mortality,

• (vi) suppliers of feedingstuffs,

• (vii) type, period of use and withdrawal periods of feed additives,

• (viii) consumption of feedingstuffs and water,

• (ix) examination and diagnosis of the attending veterinary surgeon engaged by that producer, together with any laboratory results,

• (x) type of any medicinal product, with dates of administration and withdrawal, given to the birds or rabbits,

• (xi) date and type of any vaccines given,

• (xii) weight gain during the fattening period,

• (xiii) results of any previous official pre-slaughter health inspections of birds from the same specified group,

• (xiv) number of birds or rabbits sent for slaughter,

• (xv) expected date of slaughter;

• (b) any additional examinations needed to establish whether the birds or rabbits—

• (i) are suffering from a disease which can be transmitted to humans or to animals or are behaving, on an individual or collective basis, in such a way as to indicate that such a disease may occur,

• (ii) show disturbance of general behaviour or signs of sickness which may make the meat unfit for human consumption;

• (c) regular sampling of water and feed with a view to checking compliance with withdrawal periods;

• (d) the results of tests for zoonotic agents carried out in accordance with Directive 92/117/EEC[^f00027].

8

At the slaughterhouse, the official veterinary surgeon shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the birds or rabbits are identified, that the requirements of Chapter II of Directive [^f00028] have been complied with and that the birds or rabbits are checked for injury during transport.

9

In the case of there being any doubt concerning the identity of a consignment of birds or rabbits or where the birds or rabbits are required to undergo a pre-slaughter health inspection at the slaughterhouse in accordance with paragraph 4 above, the official veterinary surgeon shall examine each crate of the birds or rabbits if the birds or rabbits, as the case may be, show the signs referred to in paragraph 7(b) above.

10

Where any birds or rabbits have not been slaughtered within three days of their examination and the issue of the health attestation provided for in paragraph 1(a) above—

• (a) where the birds or rabbits have not left the holding of origin, a new health attestation (in the form specified in Schedule 17) shall be required, or

• (b) the official veterinary surgeon of the slaughterhouse may, after considering the reasons for the delay in slaughtering and on being satisfied, following such further examination he may consider to be necessary of the birds or rabbits, as the case may be, that there is no health risk, authorise the slaughter of those birds or rabbits.

11

Without prejudice to the requirements of Directive 91/494/EEC, no bird shall be slaughtered for the purpose of human consumption if the clinical signs of the following diseases have been established:

• (a) ornithosis,

• (b) salmonellosis.

12

The official veterinary surgeon may, at the request of the producer of the birds referred to in paragraph 11 above, authorise the slaughter of such birds at the end of the current slaughtering period at the slaughterhouse provided that precautions are taken to keep to a minimum the risk of spreading pathogenic micro-organisms and to clean and disinfect the facilities after the slaughter, with the meat of the slaughtered birds being handled as if it were meat declared unfit for human consumption.

13

The official veterinary surgeon shall—

• (a) prohibit slaughter where he has evidence that the meat from the birds concerned would be unfit for human consumption;

• (b) postpone slaughter where the withdrawal period for residues has not been respected;

• (c) ensure, with regard to clinically healthy poultry from a specified group the slaughter of which is obligatory under a programme for the control of infectious disease, that those birds are slaughtered at the end of the current slaughtering period or under conditions such that any contamination of other birds is avoided.

14

The official veterinary surgeon shall immediately notify the Minister of any prohibition of slaughter, giving reasons, and provisionally place the birds affected by such slaughter prohibition in safekeeping.

15

Sick or suspect birds or rabbits shall not be slaughtered in the premises except in accordance with an authorisation granted by the official veterinary surgeon. Where such an authorisation is granted, slaughter shall be performed under the supervision of the official veterinary surgeon and steps taken to prevent contamination; the premises shall be specially cleaned and disinfected under such supervision before being used again.

16

No rabbit shall be slaughtered for human consumption if it has been established that—

• (a) the rabbit is suffering from a disease which can be transmitted to humans or animals, or shows clinical signs of such a disease, or the general condition of the rabbit is such as to indicate that such a disease may occur; or

• (b) the rabbit shows clinical signs of a disease or disorder affecting its general condition which may make the meat unfit for human consumption.

17

Any rabbit referred to in paragraph 16 above shall be slaughtered either separately or after the slaughter of all other rabbits, with the meat of that slaughtered rabbit being hygienically disposed of.

SCHEDULE 8 — HYGIENE REQUIREMENTS FOR SLAUGHTER AND THE HANDLING OF FRESH MEAT

1

• (a) Only live birds or rabbits may be brought into a slaughterhouse. The birds or rabbits shall, except in the case of slaughter according to a religious rite, be stunned and immediately slaughtered.

• (b) Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (a) above, dead small wild game may be brought into a slaughterhouse as permitted by Article 3(1)(a) and (b)(ii) of Council Directive 92/45/EEC.

2

Bleeding shall be completed and carried out in such a way that the blood cannot cause contamination outside the place of slaughter.

3

Slaughtered birds shall be plucked completely before skinning or cutting and slaughtered rabbits shall be skinned immediately.

4

Evisceration shall be carried out immediately in the case of total or partial evisceration or within the period laid down in paragraph 4 of Part I of Schedule 9 in the case of deferred evisceration. Slaughtered birds or rabbits shall be opened in such a way that the cavities and all the relevant viscera can be inspected. For this purpose the viscera to be inspected may either be detached or left attached to the carcase by their natural connections. If detached, they shall be identifiable as belonging to a given carcase.

5

After inspection, the viscera which has been removed shall be separated immediately from the carcase, and the parts unfit for human consumption removed at once. Viscera or parts of viscera remaining in the carcase shall, with the exception of the kidneys, be removed entirely if practicable, under satisfactory hygienic conditions.

6

Meat shall not be cleaned by wiping with a cloth and the carcase shall not be filled with anything other than edible offal or neck offal from birds or rabbits slaughtered in the slaughterhouse which shall be wrapped in accordance with paragraph 2(c) of Schedule 13.

7

The carcase shall not be cut into portions and the meat shall not be removed or subjected to any process prior to the post-mortem health inspection except with the consent of the official veterinary surgeon who may prescribe any other handling required for the purposes of the post-mortem health inspection.

8

Detained meat, on the one hand, and meat declared unfit for human consumption in accordance with paragraph 1 of Part II of Schedule 9 or not allowed for human consumption in accordance with paragraph 2 of that Part on the other, and feathers and waste shall be removed as soon as possible to the rooms, facilities or containers referred to in paragraph 4(d) of Schedule 1 and paragraph 1(e) and (f) of Schedule 2 and shall be handled in such a way so as to ensure that contamination is kept to a minimum.

9

After inspection and evisceration fresh meat shall immediately be cleaned and chilled hygienically to ensure compliance with the temperature laid down in Schedule 12 as soon as possible.

10

• (a) Birds subjected to delayed evisceration shall be chilled hygienically immediately after plucking. They shall not be chilled by an immersion chilling process.

• (b) Carcases of birds to be subjected to an immersion chilling process in accordance with the process described in paragraph 11 below shall, immediately after evisceration, be thoroughly washed by spraying and immersed without delay. The spraying shall be carried out by means of equipment which washes both the internal and external surfaces of the carcases efficiently and in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (c) below.

• (c) For carcases weighing—

• (i) not more than 2.5 kg, at least 1.5 litres of water shall be used per carcase,

• (ii) between 2.5 kg and 5 kg, at least 2.5 litres of water shall be used per carcase,

• (iii) 5 kg or more, at least 3.5 litres of water shall be used per carcase.

11

The immersion chilling process shall meet the following requirements—

• (a) the carcases shall pass through one or more tanks of water or of ice and water, the contents of which are continuously renewed. Only a system whereby the carcases are constantly propelled by mechanical means through a counterflow of water shall be used;

• (b) the temperature of the water in the tank or tanks measured at the points of entry and exit of the carcases shall not be more than +16°C and +4°C respectively;

• (c) it shall be carried out in such a way that the temperature specified in Schedule 12 is reached in the shortest possible time;

• (d) the minimum flow of water throughout the whole chilling process referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph shall be—

• (i) 2.5 litres per carcase weighing 2.5 kg or less,

• (ii) 4 litres per carcase weighing between 2.5 kg and 5 kg,

• (iii) 6 litres per carcase weighing 5 kg or more;

• (e) where there are several tanks, the inflow of fresh water and the outflow of used water in each tank shall be regulated in such a way as to progressively decrease in the direction of movement of the carcases, the fresh water being divided between the tanks in such a way that the flow of water through the last tank is not less than—

• (i) 1 litre per carcase weighing 2.5 kg or less,

• (ii) 1.5 litres per carcase weighing between 2.5 kg and 5 kg,

• (iii) 2 litres per carcase weighing 5 kg or more.

The water used for first filling the tanks shall not be included in the calculation of these quantities;

• (f) the carcases shall not remain in the first part of the apparatus or the first tank for more than half an hour or in the rest of the apparatus or the other tank or tanks for longer than is strictly necessary;

• (g) all necessary precautions shall be taken to ensure that, in the event of interruptions of the process, the transit time laid down in the sub-paragraph (f) of this paragraph is complied with; whenever there has been a stoppage of the equipment, the official veterinary surgeon shall satisfy himself prior to re-setting it in motion that the carcases still meet the requirements of these Regulations and are fit for human consumption and, if such is not the case, ensure that they are transported as soon as possible to the facilities provided for in paragraph 4(d) of Schedule 1;

• (h) each piece of equipment shall be entirely emptied, cleaned and disinfected whenever this is necessary at the end of the period of work and at least once a day;

• (i) calibrated control equipment shall be used that permits adequate and continued supervision of the measuring and recording of—

• (i) the water consumption during spray-washing before immersion,

• (ii) the temperature of the water in the tank or tanks at the points of entry and exit of the carcases,

• (iii) the water consumption during immersion,

• (iv) the number of carcases in each of the weight-ranges listed in sub-paragraphs (d) and (e) of this paragraph and paragraph 10 above;

• (j) the results of the various checks carried out by the producer shall be kept and submitted on request to the official veterinary surgeon;

• (k) the correct functioning of the chilling plant and its effect on the hygiene level shall be evaluated by scientific microbiological methods, the contamination of the carcases with total bacteria and enterobacteria being compared before and after immersion. Such comparison shall be carried out when the plant is first brought into use and after that periodically and in any case each time any alterations are made to the plant. The functioning of the various parts shall be regulated so as to ensure a satisfactory standard of hygiene;

• (l) notwithstanding the preceding sub-paragraphs of this paragraph, in the case of poultry slaughtered by the Jewish method for the food of Jews, salting and subsequent washing off of the salt, carried out under the supervision of the Local Board of Shechita or, in the absence of any such Board, of a Committee appointed for the purpose by the local Jewish congregation established in accordance with Jewish law, may take place immediately after the carcases emerge from the first part of the equipment or, where the equipment comprises more than one tank, the first tank. In such cases the period in the first part of the equipment or first tank may be extended to 40 minutes. Any immersion of the carcases in water for the purposes of soaking, salting and subsequent washing off of the salt shall comply with the requirements of sub-paragraphs (a), (d), (e) and (h) of this paragraph.

12

Adequate arrangements shall be made so as to ensure that until the inspection has been completed, it shall not be possible for carcases and offal not yet inspected to come into contact with carcases and offal already inspected and that there is no removal, cutting or further treatment of the carcase.

13

Adequate arrangements shall be made so as to ensure that it shall not be possible for meat detained or declared unfit for human consumption or inedible by-products to come into contact with meat declared fit for human consumption, and the former shall be placed as soon as possible in special rooms or containers located and laid out in such a way as to avoid any contamination of other fresh meat.

14

The drawing and trussing, handling, further treatment and transport of meat, including offal, shall be performed in accordance with all hygiene requirements. Where such meat is packaged, the requirement in paragraph 1(d) of Schedule 2 and the conditions laid down in Schedule 13 shall be complied with. Packaged meat shall be stored in a separate room from exposed fresh meat.

SCHEDULE 9 — POST-MORTEM HEALTH INSPECTION

PART I — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1

The birds and rabbits shall be inspected immediately after slaughter under suitable lighting and as part of such inspection—

• (a) in the case of birds, the following parts:

• (i) the surface of the bird’s body, excluding head and feet save where these are intended for human consumption;

• (ii) the viscera; and

• (iii) the body cavities,

shall be subjected to visual inspection and, where necessary, palpation and incision, except that where, in the case of quail and pigeon, the evisceration technique does not permit complete inspection of the viscera of each bird, that inspection may be carried out on a sample of at least 5% of each batch of such birds, the opinion expressed as to the fitness for human consumption of the sample inspected applying to the whole batch.

• (b) in the case of rabbits, the following shall be carried out:

• (i) visual inspection of the slaughtered animal;

• (ii) where necessary, palpation and incision of the lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys and parts of the carcase which have undergone any change;

• (iii) investigation of anomalies of consistency, colour, smell and, where appropriate taste; and

• (iv) where necessary, laboratory tests.

• (c) attention shall also be paid to:

• (i) anomalies of consistency, colour and smell in the carcases;

• (ii) major anomalies resulting from slaughtering operations; and

• (iii) proper functioning of the slaughter equipment.

• (2) In the case of birds, the official veterinary surgeon shall in any event:

• (a) subject to detailed inspection a random sample of the birds rejected in the post-mortem health inspection, the meat of which was declared unfit for human consumption in accordance with paragraph 1 of Part II of this Schedule;

• (b) examine a random sample of birds taken from the specified group which has undergone the post-mortem inspection, for an inspection of the viscera and the body cavities;

• (c) carry out a special post-mortem inspection of the poultrymeat if there are other indications that the meat from that poultry could be unfit for human consumption.

3

In the case of partly eviscerated poultry (“effileé”) whose intestines have been removed immediately, the viscera and the body cavities of at least 5% of the slaughtered poultry from each specified group shall be inspected after evisceration. If during such inspection anomalies are discovered in a number of birds, then all the birds in the specified group shall be inspected in accordance with paragraph 1 above.

4

In the case of birds subjected to delayed evisceration:

• (a) the post-mortem health inspection in accordance with paragraph 1 above shall take place at the latest 15 days after slaughter, during which period they must be kept at a temperature not exceeding +4°C;

• (b) at the end of that period at the latest, they shall be eviscerated in the slaughterhouse where the slaughtering was performed, in an approved cutting plant fulfilling the additional requirements in paragraph 1(b) of Schedule 3 or in a low throughput cutting premises fulfilling the additional requirements of Part III of Schedule 5 and in the last two cases, be accompanied by the health certificate shown in Schedule 20;

• (c) the poultry meat or farmed game meat shall not bear the health mark referred to in Schedule 11 before the evisceration referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph has been performed.

5

The taking of samples to examine for residues shall be carried out by spot checks and in any case in the event of any justified suspicion. In the case of examination for residues by sampling, examination shall be carried out for the residues referred to in Group A III and Group B I(a) and (c) and II(a) of Annex 1 to Directive 86/469/EEC[^f00029], as amended by Decision 89/187/EEC[^f00030].

6

The obligation to examine for residues of substances with pharmacological action referred to in the second sub-paragraph of Article 4(1) of Directive 71/118/EEC shall not apply to poultry from holdings under official veterinary control where examination for those residues is carried out on the holdings of origin.

7

Where a disease is suspected on the basis of the pre-slaughter health inspection or post-mortem health inspection, the official veterinary surgeon may ask for the requisite laboratory tests to be carried out if he considers them necessary to substantiate his diagnosis or to detect substances with pharmacological action likely to be present, given the pathological condition observed. In case of any doubt, the official veterinary surgeon may perform any further cuts and inspections of the relevant parts of the birds or rabbits necessary in order to reach a definitive diagnosis.

PART II — INDICATIONS OF UNFITNESS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

2

In the case of birds, the head separated from the carcase with the exception of the tongue, comb, wattles and caruncles and the following viscera shall be excluded from use for human consumption: trachea, lungs and crop separated from the carcase in accordance with paragraph 5 of Schedule 8, oesophagus, intestine and gall bladder.

SCHEDULE 10 — PROVISIONS CONCERNING MEAT INTENDED FOR CUTTING

1

The carcase shall be cut up into parts and boned only in licensed cutting premises.

2

The occupier shall facilitate operations for the supervision of the plant, in particular any handling which is considered necessary, and shall place the necessary facilities at the disposal of the persons carrying out such supervision under these Regulations. In particular, he shall on request inform the official veterinary surgeon responsible for supervision, of the source of the meat brought into his cutting plant and the origin of the birds or rabbits slaughtered.

3

Meat which does not fulfil the requirements of these Regulations shall not be placed in licensed cutting premises except in special storage areas; it shall be cut up in other places or at other times than meat which fulfils those requirements. The official veterinary surgeon shall at all times have access to all storage rooms and work rooms in order to satisfy himself that the preceding provisions of this Schedule are rigorously observed.

4

Fresh meat intended for cutting shall, as soon as it is brought in, be placed in the cutting room or, until cut up, in the room provided for in paragraph 1(a) of Schedule 3. However, notwithstanding paragraph 9 of Schedule 8, meat may be transported directly from the slaughter room to the cutting room. In such cases the slaughter room and the cutting room shall be sufficiently near to each other and located in the same group of buildings, since the meat to be cut shall be transferred in one operation from one room to the other by means of an extension of the mechanical handling system from the slaughter room, and cutting shall be carried out immediately. As soon as the prescribed cutting and packaging are completed, the meat shall be transported to the chilling room provided for in paragraph 1(a) of Schedule 3.

5

Meat shall be brought into the rooms referred to in paragraph 1(b) of Schedule 3 as required. As soon as cutting and, where appropriate, packaging are completed, the meat shall be transported to the chilling room provided for in paragraph 1(a) of Schedule 3.

6

Except in the case of meat cut while warm in accordance with paragraph 4 above, cutting may take place only if the meat has reached a temperature not exceeding +4°C.

7

Fresh meat shall not be cleaned by wiping with a cloth.

8

Cutting shall be carried out in such a way so as to avoid any soiling of the meat. Splinters of bone and clots of blood shall be removed. Meat obtained from cutting and not intended for human consumption shall be collected in the containers or rooms referred to in paragraph 4(d) of Schedule 1 as it is cut.

SCHEDULE 11 — HEALTH MARKING

1

Subject to paragraph 4 below, the health mark shall include:

• (a) for meat wrapped in individual units or for small packages—

• (i) on the upper part, the initials “UK”;

• (ii) in the centre, the veterinary approval number of the establishment or, where appropriate, the cutting premises or re-wrapping centre; and

• (iii) on the lower part, the initials “EEC”;

The letters and figures shall be 0.2 centimetres high; and

• (b) for large packages, an oval mark at least 6.5 cm wide by 4.5 cm high, including the information listed under sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph. The letters shall be at least 0.8 cm high and the figures at least 1 cm high.

2

The health mark may, in addition, include an indication enabling the official veterinary surgeon who carried out the health inspection of the meat to be identified.

3

The material used for marking shall meet all hygiene requirements and the information referred to in paragraph 1(a) above shall appear on it in perfectly legible form.

4

In the case of fresh meat produced in low throughput premises the health mark shall consist of:

• (a) for meat wrapped in individual units or for small packages, a square mark, containing in legible form in letters and figures 0.2 cm high the following information:

• (i) on the upper part, the letters “UK”;

• (ii) in the centre, the approval number of the premises; and

• (iii) on the lower part, the letter “N”; and

• (b) for large packages, a square mark 5.5 cm by 5.5 cm, containing in legible form in letters 0.8 cm high and figures 1 cm high the information listed under sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph.

5

• (a) The health mark referred to in paragraphs 1(a) and 4(a) above shall be made:

• (i) on or legibly beneath wrapping or packaging of individually packed carcases;

• (ii) on non-individually wrapped carcases by apposition of a seal or label, which may be used only once; or

• (iii) on or legibly beneath wrapping or other packaging of parts of carcases or offal wrapped in small quantities.

• (b) The health mark referred to in paragraphs 1(b) and 4(b) above shall be made on large packages containing carcases, parts of carcases or offal marked in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph.

• (c) Where a health mark appears on the wrapping or packaging:

• (i) it shall be applied in such a way that it is destroyed when the wrapping or packaging is opened; or

• (ii) the wrapping or packaging shall be sealed in such a way that it cannot be re-used after opening.

6

Subject to paragraph 7 below, in cases where the poultry come from a holding which is placed under animal health restrictions in connection with a poultry disease or which is situated in an area which has been declared an avian influenza or Newcastle disease infection area, the health mark referred to in paragraph 1 above shall be—

• (a) overstamped in such a way that it is covered by a diagonal cross consisting of two straight lines crossing at right angles, with the point of intersection in the centre of the stamp and the information thereon remaining legible; or

• (b) replaced by a single mark, consisting of the health mark referred to in paragraph 1, overstamped in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph.

7

• (a) In the event of an outbreak of Newcastle disease, the health mark referred to in paragraph 1 above may be applied to poultry meat which is obtained from poultry which—

• (i) comes from a holding within a surveillance zone as defined in Article 9(1) of Council Directive 92/66/EEC[^f00031] and in respect of which no contact with an infected holding has been recorded following an epidemiological investigation;

• (ii) comes from a flock in respect of which a virological examination giving a negative result has been carried out by a specified officer on a representative sample of that flock no more than five days before consignment of any of that flock;

• (iii) comes from a holding where no lesions or clinical signs have been found to indicate the presence of Newcastle disease following clinical examination by a specified officer which shall be carried out not more than 24 hours before consignment of the poultry;

• (iv) is transported directly from the holding of origin to the slaughterhouse using a means of transport which is sealed by a specified officer and which shall be cleaned and disinfected before and after each transportation; and

• (v) is examined in the slaughterhouse at the time of the pre-slaughter health inspection or the post-mortem health inspection with a view to detect lesions or clinical signs of Newcastle disease.

• (b) In this paragraph “specified officer” means a veterinary inspector appointed by the Minister under the Animal Health Act 1981

8

The health marking of carcases, parts of carcases or offal as provided for in paragraph 5(a) above shall not be necessary in the following cases:

• (a) consignments of carcases, including those which have had parts removed pursuant to paragraphs 1(b) and 3(b) of Part II of Schedule 9, dispatched from a licensed slaughterhouse to a licensed cutting premises for cutting therein subject to the following conditions:

• (i) the large packaging containing the fresh meat shall bear, on the external surface, the health mark in accordance with paragraphs (1)(b), 4(b) and 5(c) above;

• (ii) the dispatch office shall maintain a record of the amount, type and destination of consignments dispatched in accordance with these Regulations;

• (iii) the recipient cutting premises shall maintain a record of the amount, type and origin of consignments received in accordance with these Regulations;

• (iv) the health mark on the large packaging shall be destroyed when the large packaging is opened in cutting premises under the supervision of the official veterinary surgeon; and

• (v) the destination and intended use of the consignment shall be clearly indicated on the external surface of the large packaging in accordance with this paragraph and with Schedule 21;

• (b) consignments of carcases, including those which have had parts removed pursuant to paragraph 1(b) and 3(b) of Part II of Schedule 9, parts of carcases and the following offal: hearts, livers and gizzards, dispatched from a licensed slaughterhouse, cutting premises or re-wrapping centre to a meat product establishment for preparation, subject to the following conditions:

• (i) the large packaging containing the fresh poultrymeat shall bear, on the external surface, the health mark in accordance with paragraphs 1(b), 4(b) and 5(c) above;

• (ii) the dispatch office shall maintain a record of the amount, type and destination of consignments dispatched in accordance with these Regulations;

• (iii) the recipient meat and meat product establishment shall maintain a record of the amount, type and origin of consignments received in accordance with these Regulations;

• (iv) when the fresh meat is intended for use in meat products for trade between EEA States, the health mark of the large packaging shall be destroyed when the large packaging is opened in an establishment under the supervision of the food authority or the Minister; and

• (v) the destination and intended use of the consignment shall be clearly indicated on the external surface of the large packaging in accordance with this paragraph and with Schedule 21; or

• (c) consignments of carcases, including those which have had parts removed pursuant to paragraph 1(b) and 3(b) of Part II of Schedule 9, dispatched from a licensed slaughterhouse, re-wrapping centre or cutting premises to restaurants, canteens and institutions for direct supply to the final consumer after heat treatment, subject to the following conditions:

• (i) the packaging containing the fresh poultrymeat shall bear, on the external surface, the health mark in accordance with paragraphs 1(b), 4(b) and 5(c) above;

• (ii) the dispatch office shall maintain a record of the amount, type and destination of consignments despatched in accordance with these Regulations;

• (iii) the recipient outlet shall maintain a record of the amount, type and origin of consignments received in accordance with these Regulations;

• (iv) those outlets shall be subject to control by the food authority, who shall be given access to the records kept; and

• (v) the destination and intended use of the consignment shall be clearly indicated on the external surface of the large packaging in accordance with this paragraph and with Schedule 21.

SCHEDULE 12 — STORAGE

1

After the chilling provided for in paragraph 9 of Schedule 8, fresh meat shall be kept at a temperature which may not at any time exceed +4°C.

2

Frozen meat shall be kept at a temperature which may not at any time exceed −12°C.

3

Unpackaged fresh meat shall be stored separately from packaged fresh meat.

SCHEDULE 13 — WRAPPING AND PACKAGING OF FRESH MEAT

1

• (a) Packaging (for example packing cases, cardboard boxes) shall fulfil all rules of hygiene, and in particular:

• (i) shall not alter the organoleptic characteristics of the meat,

• (ii) shall not be capable of transmitting to the meat substances harmful to human health,

• (iii) shall be strong enough to ensure effective protection of the meat during transportation and handling;

• (b) packaging shall not be re-used for meat unless it is made of corrosion-resistant materials which are easy to clean and has been previously cleaned and disinfected.

2

• (a) Cut fresh meat or offal shall be wrapped immediately after cutting and in accordance with the requirements of hygiene.

• (b) Wrapping shall be transparent and colourless or, in the case of coloured transparent wrapping, designed in such a way as to leave the wrapped meat or offal partially visible. It shall also fulfil the conditions of paragraph 1(a)(i) and (ii) above; it shall not be used again for wrapping meat.

• (c) Parts of birds, rabbits or offal separated from the carcase shall always be wrapped in a firmly sealed protective covering satisfying the above criteria.

3

Wrapped meat shall be packaged.

4

However, when wrapping fulfils all the protective conditions of packaging it need not be transparent and colourless and placing in a second container shall not be necessary provided that the other conditions of paragraph 1 above are fulfilled.

5

Cutting, boning, wrapping and packaging operations shall not take place in the same room unless the packaging is re-usable as described in paragraph 1(b) above or where the following conditions are satisfied:

• (a) the room shall be sufficiently large and so arranged that the hygiene of the operations is assured;

• (b) the packaging and wrapping shall be enclosed in a sealed protective covering immediately after manufacture; this covering shall be protected from damage during transport to the licensed premises and stored under hygienic conditions in a separate room in such premises;

• (c) the rooms for storing packaging material shall be dust and vermin-free and have no air connection with rooms containing substances which might contaminate fresh meat. Packaging shall not be stored on the floor;

• (d) packaging shall be assembled under hygienic conditions before being brought into the room;

• (e) packaging shall be hygienically brought into the room and used without delay. It shall not be handled by staff handling fresh meat;

• (f) immediately after packaging the meat shall be placed in the storage room provided.

SCHEDULE 14 — TRANSPORT

1

In relation to the fresh meat of birds—

• (a) fresh meat shall be transported by means of transport fitted with a hermetic closing system or, in the case of such fresh meat imported from or transiting through a third country, in a sealed means of transport, designed and equipped in such a way that the temperatures specified in Schedule 12 are maintained throughout transportation;

• (b) means of transport intended for transporting such fresh meat shall meet the following requirements:

• (i) their inside surfaces shall be smooth and easy to clean and disinfect; and

• (ii) they shall be provided with efficient devices for protecting the meat against insects and dust and be watertight;

• (c) means of transport intended for transporting meat shall in no case be used for transporting live animals or any products likely to affect or contaminate meat;

• (d) no other product likely to affect the hygiene of the fresh meat or to contaminate it shall be transported at the same time as the fresh meat in the same means of transport. Packaged meat shall be transported in separate means of transport from unpackaged meat unless an adequate physical separation within the same means of transport is provided so as to protect the unpackaged meat;

• (e) fresh meat shall not be transported in a vehicle or container which is not clean and has not been disinfected;

• (f) the occupier shall ensure that transport vehicles and loading conditions are such as to enable the hygiene requirements of this Schedule to be complied with.

2

Rabbit meat shall be dispatched in such a way that during transport it is protected from anything liable to contaminate it or to affect it unfavourably, having regard to the duration and conditions of transport and to the means of transport employed. In particular, vehicles used for such transport shall be equipped in such a way as to ensure that the temperatures laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12 are not exceeded.

SCHEDULE 15 — MEAT HYGIENE APPEALS TRIBUNAL

1

Each Tribunal shall consist of a Chairman or a Deputy Chairman and two other members.

2

• (1) The Chairman or Deputy Chairman shall be an independent person appointed by the Minister.

• (2) One member shall be a person nominated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, who shall not be a member of the State Veterinary Service nor an official veterinary surgeon.

• (3) One member shall be a person whom the Minister considers to be representative of the interests of licensed premises.

3

Each Tribunal may be serviced by a Secretary and such other staff as the Minister may appoint.

4

The terms of appointment and the remuneration of the members, secretary and other staff of a Tribunal shall be determined by the Minister.

SCHEDULE 16 — QUALIFICATIONS OF INSPECTORS

1

Registered Medical Practitioner.

2

Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

3

The holder of any of the qualifications specified in paragraph 3 of the Schedule to the Authorised Officers (Meat Inspection) Regulations 1987[^f00032], who has undertaken a further course of training in poultry meat hygiene and inspection acceptable to the Minister.

4

The holder of a valid—

• (a) Certificate in Poultry Meat Inspection of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health; or

• (b) Certificate of the former Royal Sanitary Association of Scotland; or

• (c) Certificate in Poultry Meat Inspection of the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland; or

• (d) Certificate or other qualification in poultry meat inspection obtained in the United Kingdom or another relevant EEA State which the Minister has confirmed in writing as adequate for appointment as an inspector under these Regulations.

SCHEDULE 17 — MODEL

HEALTH ATTESTATION (¹)

For birds or rabbits transported from the holding to the slaughterhouse

SCHEDULE 18 — MODEL

HEALTH CERTIFICATE

For fresh poultrymeat/farmed feathered game meat (¹)

SCHEDULE 19 — MODEL

PUBLIC HEALTH CERTIFICATE

For fresh rabbit meat(¹) intended for consignment to a relevant EEA State

SCHEDULE 20 — MODEL

HEALTH ATTESTATION FOR DELAYED EVISCERATION OF BIRDS IN SEPARATE CUTTING PREMISES

SCHEDULE 21

INDICATION TO BE APPLIED TO LARGE PACKAGING

SCHEDULE 22 — INFORMATION TO BE SUPPLIED BY PRODUCER

PART I — PRODUCTION REPORT

The production report referred to in paragraph 1(b)(ii) ofSchedule 7 shall contain at least thefollowing information:

• (1) Holding of origin.

• (2) Intended date of arrival at slaughterhouse.

• (3) Expected number of birds or rabbits in specified group.

• (4) Mortality data.

• (5) Details of any disease diagnosed and the results of any laboratoryexamination.

• (6) Details of any medication given.

PART II — ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The additional information referred to at paragraph 1(b)(iii) of Schedule 7 may consist of the following:

• (1) Suppliers of feeding stuffs.

• (2) Hatchery details.

• (3) Any available information on growth rates and breed performance.

• (4) Results of previous post-mortem inspections at the slaughterhouse onbirds or rabbits from the same specified group.

• (5) Feed additives and vaccines used.

SCHEDULE 23 — AMENDMENT OF REGULATIONS

(1)	(2)	(3)
References	Title	Provisions amended
S.I. 1960/1602	The Food Hygiene (Docks, Carriers, etc.) Regulations 1960	Regulation 4A(b)
S.I. 1966/791	The Food Hygiene (Markets, Stalls and Delivery Vehicles) Regulations 1966	Sub-paragraph (b) of the definition of “food business” in regulation 2
S.I. 1970/1172	The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970	Regulation 3(2)(b)(iii)
S.I. 1991/2825	The Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991	Regulation 3(2)(d)
S.I. 1992/2921	The Meat Hygiene Appeals Tribunal (Procedure) Regulations 1992	Regulations 1(2) and 2
S.I. 1993/3247	The Animals and Animal Products(Import and Export) Regulations 1993	Regulation 12(2)
S.I. 1995/361	The Meat (Hygiene, Inspection and Examinations for Residues) (Charges) Regulations 1995	Paragraph (b) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations

Signed

Angela Browning — Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food — 28th February 1995

Cumberlege — Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, — Department of Health — 24th February 1995

Gwilyn Jones — Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office — 24th February 1995

Hector Monro — Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office — 27th February 1995

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which apply to Great Britain, give effectto the provisions of Council Directive 71/118/EEC, and Council Directive 91/495/EEC (both defined in regulation 2(1)), and in part to the provisions of Council Directive 91/494/EEC on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in and imports from third countries of freshpoultrymeat (OJ No. L268, 24.9.91, p.35), as amended by Council Directive 93/121/EEC (OJNo. L340, 31.12.93, p.39). They replace the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat andRabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1994 (“the 1994 Regulations”) which are revoked from 1st April 1995 (regulation 26).

The Regulations transfer responsibility for their execution and enforcement in relation to licensed premises from local authorities to the Minister.

Regulations do not apply to premises where fresh meat is cut up, stored or re-wrapped for sale direct to the final consumer; slaughterhouses with an annual production of less than 10,000 birds or rabbits and cold stores (subject to specified restrictions); fresh meat intended for exhibitions, special studies or analysis, or for sale to international organisations; and fresh meat not intended for human consumption (regulation 3).

The Regulations—

• (a) prohibit the use of any premises as a slaughterhouse, cutting premises, a cold storeor a re-wrapping centre unless they are licensed and make provision for the issue, on application, of licences by the Minister (regulation 4);

• (b) provide for the revocation of licences (regulation 5);

• (c) provide for an Appeals Tribunal to hear appeals against refusals to license, conditions imposed on the grant of licences, and revocations of licences (regulation 6);

• (d) subject to a specified exemption, prohibit the use of a slaughterhouse for slaughtering a bird or rabbit not intended for sale for human consumption (regulation 7);

• (e) enable the Minister to designate, and require him to appoint, official veterinary surgeons and require him to appoint inspectors to supervise licensed premises (regulation 8);

• (f) provide for the revocation and suspension of such designations, and specify the powers of official veterinary surgeons (regulations 9 and 10);

• (g) provide for the authorisation by the Minister of persons as plant inspection assistants and for the revocation and suspension of such authorisations (regulation 11);

• (h) require the Minister to arrange for the carrying out of pre-slaughter health inspections and post-mortem health inspections of birds and rabbits and also make provision in relation to the application of the health mark, and prohibit the use of a mark resembling a health mark likely to deceive (regulation 12);

• (i) prohibit the operation of licensed premises without giving the Minister at least 72 hours, or other shorter period as agreed with the Minister, advance notice except where such slaughter is at a fixed time and day in accordance with a regular practice (regulation 13);

• (j) specify the conditions to be complied with in relation to the sale of fresh meat for human consumption and, subject to specified exceptions, prohibit the sale of such meat unless those conditions are complied with (regulation 14);

• (k) specify the documents necessary when transporting fresh meat (regulation 15);

• (l) enable an official veterinary surgeon or inspector to prohibit slaughter in specified circumstances and provide for authorisation of slaughter subject to conditions (regulation 16);

• (m) require official veterinary surgeons to keep specified records and also require them to notify the presence of specified diseases (regulation 17);

• (n) specify the duties of occupiers and producers (regulations 18 and 19);

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

• (p) enable the Minister to recover specified costs from producers (regulation 21);

• (q) require food authorities to supply specified information to the Minister (regulation 22);

• (r) specify the enforcement authorities and make provision for the application of various provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 (regulations 23 and 24);

• (s) make provision for fresh meat imported from Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (regulation 25); and

• (t) amend specified Regulations (regulation 27).

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. Section 6(4) was amended by the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 (c. 40), section 31 and Schedule 9, paragraph 6.

[^f00002]: S.I. 1972/1811.

[^f00003]: 1972 c. 68.

[^f00004]: S.I. 1994/1029

[^f00005]: OJ No. L55, 8.3.71, p.23 (OJ/SE 1971 vol.I, p.106).

[^f00006]: OJ No. L62, 15.3.93, p.1.

[^f00007]: OJ No. L268, 24.9.91, p.41.

[^f00008]: OJ No. L268, 14.9.92, p.54.

[^f00009]: OJ No. L1, 3.1.94, p.1.

[^f00010]: OJ No. L1, 3.1.94, p.571.

[^f00011]: 1972 c. 70.

[^f00012]: 1963 c. 33.

[^f00013]: Part III was inserted by section 1(2) of, and paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 to, the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (c. 19).

[^f00014]: 1973 c. 65.

[^f00015]: S.I. 1989/533; to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

[^f00016]: S.I. 1989/581 (S.66); to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

[^f00017]: OJ No. L268, 14.9.92, p.35.

[^f00018]: OJ No. L268, 24.9.91, p.35.

[^f00019]: OJ No. L340, 31.12.93, p.39.

[^f00020]: 1981 c. 22.

[^f00021]: S.I. 1966/791; relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1992/2037.

[^f00022]: OJ No. L303, 31.10.90, p.6.

[^f00023]: Relevant amending instrument is Council Directive 93/120/EC (OJ No. L340, 31.12.93, p.35).

[^f00024]: S.I. 1989/285.

[^f00025]: OJ No. L229, 30.8.80, p.11.

[^f00026]: S.I. 1995/361.

[^f00027]: OJ No. L62, 15.3.93, p.38.

[^f00028]: OJ No. L340, 11.12.91, p.17.

[^f00029]: OJ No. L275, 26.9.86, p.36.

[^f00030]: OJ No. L66, 10.3.89, p.37.

[^f00031]: OJ No L260, 5.9.92, p.1.

[^f00032]: S.I. 1987/133; to which there is an amendment not relevant to these Regulations.