The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

PART II CONTENTS OF AN RMOP

Animal identification and separation

1.—(1) The RMOP must describe the system that—

(a) enables bovine animals born or reared in the United Kingdom before 1st August 1996 or imported into the United Kingdom before 1st August 1996 to be identified and ensures that they are not slaughtered for human consumption;

(b) enables bovine animals over 30 months of age but born on or after 1st August 1996 to be identified and ensures that they are sampled in accordance with this Schedule; and

(c) enables bovine animals specified in point 2(1) of Part I of Chapter A of Annex III to be identified and ensures that they are sampled in accordance with this Schedule.

(2) It must also describe the system that ensures that animals over 30 months of age are—

(a) batched together before slaughter separately from those 30 months of age or under; and

(b) slaughtered in batches separately from those 30 months of age or under.

Brain stem sampling

2.—(1) The RMOP must show that there are—

(a) sufficient staff trained and competent in the taking, labelling, packaging and dispatch of brain stem samples;

(b) hygienic facilities for sampling; and

(c) sampling procedures that do not jeopardise the hygienic production of meat intended for human consumption.

(2) It must describe how health and safety guidelines designed to minimise the risk of exposure of staff to BSE during brain stem sampling and packaging will be complied with.

Correlation of sample to carcase and all other parts of the body

3.  The RMOP must describe the system linking the brain stem sample of each bovine animal over 30 months of age to the carcase of that animal and all parts of the body of that animal (including the blood and the hide).

Retention of carcases

4.—(1) The RMOP must describe the system that ensures that all carcases retained in accordance with paragraph 5(1) of Part I of this Schedule are retained in slaughter order either in a sealed or locked chiller or on a sealed or locked rail in an unsealed chiller pending the receipt of the test result.

(2) It must describe how the occupier will ensure that there is suitable and sufficient chiller space for retaining carcases for the purposes of this Schedule.

Retention of parts of the body

5.  The RMOP must describe the system that ensures that all parts of the body (including the blood and the hide) are retained in accordance with paragraph 5(1) of Part I of this Schedule.

Disposal before receipt of the result

6.  The RMOP must describe the disposal route for all carcases and all parts of the body (including the blood and the hide) retained pending receipt of a test result but disposed of before the test result is received.

Other measures following sampling

7.  The RMOP must describe the systems in place that ensure that—

(a) brain stem samples are packaged in accordance with packaging instructions P650 of the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (version applicable as from 1st January 2005)(1) and delivered in a testable condition to a laboratory approved by the Department;

(b) test results are received, either by fax or by other electronic means; and

(c) following a positive or a no-test result (as described in paragraph 5(3) of Part I of this Schedule), everything required to be disposed of in accordance with point 6(4) or 6(5) of Part I of Chapter A of Annex III of the Community TSE Regulation or under this Schedule is identified and disposed of accordingly.

Removal of vertebral column

8.  The RMOP must describe the system that, in the case of a bovine animal for which a negative test result has been received, ensures that —

(a) those parts of the vertebral column that are specified risk material are not removed in the slaughterhouse; and

(b) the meat containing that specified risk material is consigned to a cutting plant authorised under paragraph 13 of Schedule 6 to remove it.

(1)

ISBN 92-1-139097-4