Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
i. Contains residues or contaminants in excess of the
levels laid down in Community legislation. Any
overshooting of the relevant level should lead to addi-
tional analyses whenever appropriate
j. Without prejudice to more specific Community legis-
lation, derives from animals or carcasses containing
residues of forbidden substances or from animals
treated with forbidden substances
k. Consists of the liver and kidneys of animals more
than 2 years old from regions where implementation
of plans approved in accordance with Article 5 of
Directive 96/23/EC has revealed the generalised
presence of heavy metals in the environment
l. Has been treated illegally with decontaminating sub-
stances
m. Has been treated illegally with ionising or UV rays
n. Contains foreign bodies (except, in the case of wild
game, material used to hunt the animal)
o. Exceeds the maximum permitted radioactivity levels
laid down under Community legislation
p. Indicates pathophysiological changes, anomalies in
consistency, insufficient bleeding (except for wild
game) or organoleptic anomalies, in particular a pro-
nounced sexual odour
q. Derives from emaciated animals
r. Contains specific risk material, except as provided for
under Community legislation
s. Shows soiling, faecal or other contamination
t. Consists of blood that may constitute a risk to public
health owing to the health status of any animal from
which it derives or contamination arising during the
slaughter process
u. In the opinion of the official veterinarian, after
examination of all the relevant information, it may
constitute a risk to public and animal health or is
for any other reason not suitable for human con-
sumption
examines the viscera - of value in turkeys but not in
broilers. In the United States, it is recommended that
the spleen of adult birds be crushed. The trimmer is
instructed to trim, remove viscera, condemn, etc. as
necessary.
It is essential that the inspector in charge arranges for
a line speed consistent with the number and competence
of his inspectors, type of poultry, presentation methods,
incidence of disease, efficiency of evisceration proce-
dures, etc. Line speeds should be reduced in any unfa-
vourable situation and brought back to normal only
when conditions are satisfactory. If necessary, operations
should cease until the situation is satisfactory. It is rec-
ommended that the line start and stop control be within
reach of the inspector in charge.
Decisions at post-mortem examination
The final judgement as to the action to be taken with
a  carcase or parts of a carcase is based on the total
evidence produced by observation, palpation, incision,
smell, ante-mortem signs and the results of any labora-
tory test . It  is essential, therefore, that the results of
ante-mortem and supporting laboratory tests are avail-
able to the veterinarian when he is making the final
decision.
For some conditions, legislation, such as that based on
EC Regulation 854/2004, Annex 1, Section II, Chapter V,
declares unfit all meat, offal or blood which has origi-
nated from animals found on inspection to exhibit signs
of the disease. This includes:
a. Derives from animals that have not undergone
ante-mortem inspection, except for hunted wild
game
b. Derives from animals the offal of which has not
undergone post-mortem inspection unless otherwise
provided for under Regulation (EC) 854/2004 or
853/2004
c. Derives from animals which are dead before slaugh-
ter, stillborn, unborn or slaughtered under the age of
7 days
d. Results from the trimming of sticking points
e. Derives from animals affected by an OIE List A or,
where appropriate, OIE List B disease, unless other-
wise provided for in Section IV
f. Derives from animals affected by generalised disease
such as generalised septicaemia, pyaemia, toxaemia
or viraemia
g. Is not in conformity with microbiological criteria laid
down under Community legislation to determine
whether food may be placed on the market
h. Exhibits parasitic infestation, unless otherwise
provided for in Section IV
The regulation also identifies (Annex I, Section IV,
Chapter IX) six specific conditions for which specific
directions are given. These are as follows:
1 Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (BSE
and Scrapie)
Controls have varied over the years as the risk to
public health has varied.
A short history of BSE
There have been few conditions that have had such
a major impact on meat inspection theory, thinking
and controls as BSE. As a direct result of the disease,
the EFSA was established. Ministers across Europe
were forced to resign, thousands of cattle were
destroyed and/or removed from the food chain and
completely new testing and inspection regimes were
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