The Specified Risk Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Part IV Prohibitions on the removal of certain specified risk materials from ruminant animals

Prohibition on the removal of brain and eyes

14.—(1) A person shall not on any premises remove the brain or eyes from the carcase of bovine animal aged greater than six months, or from a carcase of a sheep or goat (of any age at death), except—

(a) for the purposes of veterinary or scientific examination or research; and

(b) in a part of the premises kept free at all times from food intended for human consumption.

(2) The prohibition in paragraph (1) shall not apply to the removal under Article 29 of the Order of the eyeballs of bovines, sheep or goats at the place of slaughter by a veterinary inspector or other authorised officer of the Department for the purposes of analysis under Article 31(1) of the Order.

Prohibition on the removal of the spinal cord of a ruminant animal

15.—(1) A person shall not remove the spinal cord or any part of it from the vertebral column of a sheep or goat in the mouth of which there was at least one permanent incisor tooth erupted or which was aged greater than 12 months at the date of slaughter, except—

(a) in a slaughterhouse or at cutting premises approved by the Department for the purpose by—

(i) longitudinally splitting the whole vertebral column; or

(ii) removing a longitudinal section of the whole vertebral column containing the spinal cord; or

(b) in premises referred to in regulation 12(a) for the purposes of veterinary or scientific examination.

(2) A person shall not remove the spinal cord or any part of it from the vertebral column of a bovine animal aged six months or more, or longitudinally split the vertebral column of such an animal, except—

(a) in a slaughterhouse; or

(b) in premises referred to in regulation 12(a) for the purposes of veterinary or scientific examination.

(3) Where a carcase or bone-in carcase meat is consigned to a slaughterhouse or cutting premises in accordance with regulation 9(2) the occupier of that slaughterhouse or cutting premises shall ensure that the spinal cord is removed from the rest of the carcase.

(4) The occupier of a slaughterhouse or cutting premises shall permit an inspector or official veterinary surgeon, or a person acting under the responsibility of either of them, to inspect the carcase of any sheep or goat consigned there so that he can check whether the specified risk material has been removed from the carcase in accordance with these Regulations and the occupier shall give to any such person such reasonable assistance as he shall require.

(5) If the spinal cord is removed in a slaughterhouse or at cutting premises, the occupier shall ensure that it is stained in accordance with regulation 9 or 10, and disposed of as specified risk material in accordance with these Regulations.

(6) If the spinal cord 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 these Regulations.

(7) The occupier of any licensed slaughterhouse or cutting premises may apply to the Department for the approval of that slaughterhouse or those premises under this regulation and in considering such an application the Department may (in addition to any other relevant matters) have regard to the need for the efficient enforcement of this regulation.