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

Regulations 4(2)(a), 8(1)(b), 11(1), 12(1)(b), 14(1)(d)

SCHEDULE 9POST-MORTEM HEALTH INSPECTION

PART IGENERAL 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(1), as amended by Decision 89/187/EEC(2).

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 IIINDICATIONS OF UNFITNESS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

1.—(a) Birds shall be declared totally unfit for human consumption where the post-mortem health inspection reveals any of the following diseases or conditions:

• generalized infectious disease and chronic localization in organs of pathogenic micro-organisms transmissible to humans;

• systematic mycosis and local lesions in organs suspected of having been caused by pathogenic agents transmissible to humans or their toxins;

• extensive subcutaneous or muscular parasitism and systematic parasitism;

• poisoning;

• cachexia;

• abnormal smell, colour or taste;

• malignant or multiple tumours;

• general soiling or contamination;

• major lesions and ecchymosis;

• extensive mechanical lesions, including those due to extensive scalding;

• insufficient bleeding;

• residues of substances exceeding the authorised standards or residues of prohibited substances; or

• ascites.

(b) Parts of a slaughtered bird which show localized lesions or contaminations not affecting the health of the rest of the meat shall be declared unfit 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.

3.—(a) Rabbits shall be declared totally unfit for human consumption where the post-mortem health inspection reveals any of the following diseases or conditions:

• diseases transmissible to man or animals;

• malignant or multiple tumours; multiple abscesses;

• extensive parasitic infestation in the subcutaneous or muscle tissues;

• presence of residues of forbidden substances or residues in excess of permitted Community levels, including substances with a pharmacological effect;

• poisoning;

• extensive injuries or extensive blood or serum imbibition;

• anomalies as regards colour, smell or taste; or

• anomalies as regards consistency, particularly oedema or severe emaciation.

(b) Parts of slaughtered rabbits which show localized lesions or contaminations not affecting the health of the rest of the meat shall be declared unfit for human consumption.