The Fresh Meat Export (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1987

PART IIIdetailed instructionsbovine animals under six weeks old

1.  In the case of bovine animals under six weeks old the inspection shall include—

(a)visual examination of the head and the throat; the retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes shall be examined in detail; the mouth and fauces shall be examined and the tongue shall be palpated;

(b)visual examination of the lungs, trachea and oesophagus; palpation of the lungs; the bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes shall be examined in detail; where the lungs are intended for human consumption the trachea and the main branches of the bronchi shall be opened lengthwise and the lungs shall be incised in their posterior third at right angles to their main axes;

(c)visual examination of the pericardium and the heart; the latter shall be incised lengthwise so as to open the ventricles and cut through the intraventricular septum;

(d)visual examination of the diaphragm;

(e)visual examination and palpation of the liver and the hepatic lymph nodes; visual examination of the pancreatic lymph nodes and, where an authorised officer of the Council considers it necessary, incision of the liver and examination in detail of the hepatic lymph nodes;

(f)visual examination of the alimentary tract, the mesentery, the gastric and mesenteric lymph nodes; the gastric and mesenteric lymph nodes shall be palpated and, where an authorised officer of the Council considers it necessary, examined in detail;

(g)visual examination and palpation of the spleen;

(h)visual examination of the kidneys and, where an authorised officer of the Council considers it necessary, incision of the kidneys and examination in detail of the renal lymph nodes;

(i)visual examination of the pleura and peritoneum;

(j)visual examination and palpation of the umbilical region and the joints; and where an authorised officer of the Council considers it necessary, the umbilical region shall be incised, the joints opened and the synovial fluid examined.