The TSE (Wales) Regulations 2002

Carcases and specified risk material E+W

Removal of specified risk material from carcases in slaughterhouses E+W

33.—(1) When a bovine animal is slaughtered in a slaughterhouse, or slaughtered elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse but then brought to a slaughterhouse to be dressed for human consumption, the occupier of the slaughterhouse shall ensure that all specified risk material is removed from the rest of the carcase as soon as is reasonably practicable after the animal is slaughtered and before the carcase is presented for inspection pursuant to regulation 35 below.

(2) When a sheep or goat is slaughtered in a slaughterhouse, or slaughtered elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse but then brought to a slaughterhouse to be dressed for human consumption, the occupier of the slaughterhouse shall ensure that—

(a) subject to regulation 37 below, all specified risk material is removed from the rest of the carcase at the slaughterhouse as soon as is reasonably practicable after the animal is slaughtered and before the carcase is presented for inspection pursuant to regulation 35 below; or

(b) in the case of a sheep or goat in which there was at least one permanent incisor tooth erupted, the head, spleen and tonsils are removed at the slaughterhouse as soon as is reasonably practicable after the animal is slaughtered and before the carcase is presented for inspection pursuant to regulation 35 below, and the rest of the carcase is consigned to a licensed slaughterhouse or licensed cutting premises.

(3) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation and to regulation 36 below, the occupier of the slaughterhouse shall ensure that the specified risk material which has been removed is stained blue immediately after removal from the carcase.

(4) Without prejudice to the storage requirements of regulation 52 below, the occupier of the slaughterhouse shall ensure that the specified risk material does not come into contact with any other animal material (except material derived from animals tested for the presence of a TSE which is required to be disposed of as if it were specified risk material) while in the slaughterhouse and that it is disposed of in accordance with this Part of these Regulations.

(5) An occupier of a slaughterhouse in possession of any material derived from a carcase of an animal in relation to which there is carried out (whether by an inspector or on behalf of the occupier or any other person) any test for the presence of a TSE shall, if he or she disposes of the material before a negative result in respect of the test is received, ensure that the material is stained, stored and consigned for disposal as if it were specified risk material.

(6) Material which is not specified risk material may be separated from intestines which have been removed from the carcase before the intestines are stained.

(7) In the case of specified risk material which is intended to be examined by or on behalf of an inspector or a veterinary surgeon, the specified risk material shall not be stained until after the completion of the examination.

(8) In the case of scheme animals, the occupier of the slaughterhouse must ensure that, once the specified risk material has been removed, the remainder of the carcase (excluding the hide), is immediately stained yellow.

(9) Nothing in paragraph (2) above shall require the removal of a spinal cord, being specified risk material, from the carcase of a sheep which has been slaughtered in a slaughterhouse if—

(a) the carcase is intended for export whole direct to listed premises;

(b) the occupier of the slaughterhouse concerned provides a written declaration to an OVS—

(i) indicating that he or she believes that the carcase is intended for export whole direct to listed premises; and

(ii) specifying the date on which and the place and time at which the carcase was loaded into the particular sealed vehicle by which it is intended that it be moved for the purpose of exporting it whole direct to listed premises; and

(c) the carcase has been marked in accordance with regulation 16A of the Specified Risk Material Regulations 1997 M1 .

(10) Nothing in paragraph (1) above shall require the removal of the vertebral column from the carcase of a bovine animal which was accompanied at the time of slaughter by a slaughter certificate under the Beef Assurance Scheme as described in Schedule 1 to the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 M2 if the carcase is consigned to a licensed cutting premises.

Marginal Citations

M1 S.I. 1997/2965, as amended by S.I. 1997/3062, S.I. 1998/2405, S.I. 2000/2659 (W.172) and S.I. 2000/3387 (W.224).

M2 S.I. 1996/2097.

Removal of specified risk material from carcases elsewhere E+W

34.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, when specified risk material is removed from the carcase of a ruminant animal elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse, the occupier of the premises at which the specified risk material is removed must ensure that it is removed as soon as is reasonably practicable after the death of the animal and that it is stained blue immediately.

(2) The occupier of those premises must ensure that the specified risk material does not come into contact with any other animal material (except material derived from animals tested for the presence of TSE which is required to be disposed of as if it were specified risk material) while on the premises and that it is disposed of in accordance with this Part of these Regulations.

(3) In the case of specified risk material which is intended to be examined by or on behalf of an inspector, the specified risk material shall not be stained until after the completion of the examination.

(4) An occupier of premises other than a slaughterhouse in possession of any material derived from a carcase of an animal in relation to which there is carried out (whether by an inspector or on behalf of the occupier or any other person) any test for the presence of a TSE shall, if he or she disposes of the material before a negative result in respect of the test is received, ensure that the material is stained, stored and consigned for disposal as if it were specified risk material.

(5) The provisions of this regulation do not apply in the case of a post-mortem examination carried out by a veterinary surgeon at a farm, provided that he or she makes arrangements for the disposal of the whole of the carcase by burial there.

Inspection and marking of carcases in a slaughterhouse E+W

35.—(1) The occupier of any slaughterhouse must permit an inspector, or a person acting under the responsibility of an inspector, to—

(a) inspect the carcase of any ruminant animal slaughtered there, so that he or she can check whether the requirements of this Part of these Regulations have been complied with; and

(b) mark each carcase which has been so checked and found to comply with the requirements of this Part of these Regulations.

(2) The occupier of any slaughterhouse must give to any inspector, or a person acting under the responsibility of an inspector, all reasonable assistance that he or she may require.

(3) The occupier of a slaughterhouse or cutting premises must permit an inspector, or a person acting under the responsibility of an inspector, to inspect the carcase of any sheep or goat consigned there so that he or she can check whether the specified risk material has been removed from the carcase in accordance with this Part of these Regulations; and the occupier must give to that person all reasonable assistance that he or she may require.

Removal of vertebral column of bovine animals in cutting premises E+W

36.—(1) When a carcase of a bovine animal containing vertebral column which is specified risk material—

(a) is consigned as referred to in regulation 33(10) above to licensed cutting premises; or

(b) is imported and transported in accordance with the Community TSE Regulation or the Community Transitional Measures to licensed cutting premises,

the occupier of those cutting premises must ensure that the vertebral column is removed from the rest of the carcase at the premises as soon as is practicable after the arrival of the carcase there.

(2) The occupier of licensed cutting premises must permit an inspector, or a person acting under the responsibility of an inspector, to inspect the carcase of any bovine animal consigned there so that it can be checked whether the specified risk material has been removed from the carcase in accordance with these Regulations; and the occupier shall give to that person all reasonable assistance that he or she may require.

(3) The occupier of licensed cutting premises at which vertebral column is removed in accordance with this regulation must ensure that it is—

(a) stained in accordance with regulation 33(3) above; and

(b) disposed of as specified risk material in accordance with these Regulations.

(4) If the vertebral column which is specified risk material is removed at any premises other than a slaughterhouse or cutting premises, for the purposes of veterinary or scientific examination, after that examination both the spinal cord and the vertebral column shall be stained blue and disposed of as specified risk material in accordance with this Part of these Regulations.

(5) In this regulation, “carcase” means any whole carcase, half carcase or quarter carcase.

Removal of SRM spinal cord of bovine animals, sheep and goats E+W

37.—(1) Where a carcase of a bovine animal, sheep or goat, or bone-in carcase meat from a bovine animal, sheep or goat, is consigned to a licensed slaughterhouse or a licensed cutting premises the occupier of that slaughterhouse or cutting premises must ensure that the spinal cord which is specified risk material is removed from the rest of the carcase or meat.

(2) If the spinal cord which is specified risk material is removed in a licensed slaughterhouse or at a licensed cutting premises, the occupier must ensure that it is stained in accordance with regulation 33(3) above, and disposed of as specified risk material in accordance with this Part of these Regulations.

(3) If the spinal cord which is specified risk material is removed at any premises, other than a licensed slaughterhouse or a licensed cutting premises, for the purposes of veterinary or scientific examination, after that examination the spinal cord must be stained blue and disposed of as specified risk material in accordance with this Part of these Regulations.

The young lamb stamp E+W

38.—(1) Where a sheep or goat is slaughtered in a slaughterhouse, and at the time of slaughter there was no permanent incisor tooth erupted or it was aged not more than 12 months, the carcase of the animal must be marked with the young lamb stamp.

(2) The young lamb stamp shall consist of a circular mark 5 centimetres in diameter containing in legible form in letters 1 cm high the words “MHS” and “YL”, and shall be applied by an OVS, or inspector or a meat technician acting under the responsibility of an OVS, and no other person shall apply the young lamb stamp or possess the equipment for applying the stamp.

(3) No person may use any stamp so resembling the young lamb stamp, or in such a way, as to be likely to suggest that any carcase other than a carcase of a sheep or goat in which there was no permanent incisor tooth erupted, is such a carcase.

(4) The Agency may, in relation to any slaughterhouse or licensed cutting premises, appoint as meat technicians such number of persons as is necessary to assist the OVS and inspectors in carrying out their functions under paragraph (2) above.

Staining of specified risk material E+W

39.—(1) In this Part of these Regulations “stained blue” in relation to any material means being treated (whether by immersion, spraying or other application) with a 0.5% weight/volume solution of the colouring agent Patent Blue V (E131, 1971 Colour Index No. 42051 M3 ) in such a way that the colouring is clearly visible—

(a) in the case of specified risk material other than the head of a sheep or goat, over the whole surface of the material; and

(b) in the case of the head of a sheep or goat, over the whole of the cut surface and majority of the head,

except that, if the tongue is to be removed, this must be done immediately after slaughter and the head must be stained immediately after the removal of the tongue.

(2) In this Part of these Regulations “stained yellow” in relation to any material means being treated (whether by immersion, spraying or other application) with a 0.5% weight/volume solution of the colouring agent Tartrazine (E102, Colour Index No. 19140) in such a way that the colouring is clearly visible over the whole surface of the material.

(3) The requirement in regulations 33 and 34 above to stain specified risk material shall not apply—

(a) if the specified risk material is to be sent to a veterinary or medical school, laboratory, hospital or similar institution for instructional, diagnostic or research purposes; or

(b) to specified risk material which is intended to be used at premises licensed under regulation 57 below.

(4) Where specified risk material has been stained in accordance with regulations 33 or 34 above, the occupier of any premises at which the material is stored or handled and, in the case of a place licensed under this Part of these Regulations, the operator of that place, must take appropriate measures to ensure that colouring remains visible—

(a) in the case of stained specified risk material other than the head of a sheep or goat, over the whole surface of the material; and

(b) in the case of the head of a sheep or goat, over the whole of the cut surface and the majority of the head,

until the stained specified risk material is incinerated or rendered.

(5) Where specified risk material is required to be stained in accordance with regulation 33 or 34 above but has not been so stained, the occupier of any premises at which that material is stored or handled and, in the case of a place licensed under this Part of these Regulations, the operator of that place, must, as soon as practicable after he or she becomes aware that the specified risk material was required to be stained in accordance with regulation 33 or 34 above, inform the National Assembly and detain the specified risk material until it has been inspected or collected on behalf of the National Assembly or the National Assembly has informed him or her that it may be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of this Part of these Regulations.

Marginal Citations

M3 Colour Index is published by the Society of Dyers and Colourists at Perkin House, 82 Grattan Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD1 2JB.

Consignment of specified risk material after removal from carcases E+W

40.—(1) Once specified risk material has been removed from the carcase and treated in accordance with this Part of these Regulations, including any material treated as if it were specified risk material in accordance with regulation 33(5) or 34(4) above, or, in the case of specified solid waste, recovered from the drainage system, the person responsible for its removal or recovery must, without unreasonable delay, send it directly to—

(a) a licensed collection centre;

(b) a licensed rendering plant;

(c) a licensed incinerator;

(d) premises licensed under regulation 57 below; or

(e) a veterinary or medical school, laboratory, hospital or similar institution for instructional, diagnostic or research purposes.

Presence of an OVS E+W

41.—(1) An OVS, or inspector or meat technician acting under the responsibility of an OVS, must be present at any slaughterhouse where any carcase of a sheep or goat that is not marked with a young lamb stamp is being loaded for delivery to licensed cutting premises, and must supervise the loading.

(2) An OVS, or inspector or meat technician acting under the responsibility of an OVS, must be present at any cutting premises where any carcase of a sheep or goat that is not marked with a young lamb stamp is being unloaded, and must supervise the unloading.

(3) Immediately after the loading referred to in paragraph (1) above the delivery vehicle must be sealed by an OVS, or an inspector or meat technician acting under the responsibility of an OVS, and no other person may seal that vehicle.

(4) On arrival at licensed cutting premises a sealed vehicle must be unsealed by an OVS, or an inspector or meat technician acting under the responsibility of an OVS, and no other person may unseal that vehicle.

(5) The Agency may, in relation to any slaughterhouse or licensed cutting premises, appoint as meat technicians such number of persons as are necessary to assist the OVS and inspectors in carrying out their functions under this regulation.