Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

[X1 SECTION II: U.K. MEAT FROM POULTRY AND LAGOMORPHS

CHAPTER I: U.K. TRANSPORT OF LIVE ANIMALS TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE

Food business operators transporting live animals to slaughterhouses must ensure compliance with the following requirements.

1.

During collection and transport, animals must be handled carefully without causing unnecessary distress.

2.

Animals showing symptoms of disease or originating in flocks known to be contaminated with agents of public-health importance may only be transported to the slaughterhouse when permitted by the competent authority.

3.

Crates for delivering animals to the slaughterhouse and modules, where used, must be made of non-corrodible material and be easy to clean and disinfect. Immediately after emptying and, if necessary, before re-use, all equipment used for collecting and delivering live animals must be cleaned, washed and disinfected.

CHAPTER II: U.K. REQUIREMENTS FOR SLAUGHTERHOUSES

Food business operators must ensure that the construction, layout and equipment of slaughterhouses in which poultry or lagomorphs are slaughtered meet the following requirements.

1.

They must have a room or covered space for the reception of the animals and for their inspection before slaughter.

2.

To avoid contaminating meat, they must:

(a)

have a sufficient number of rooms, appropriate to the operations being carried out;

(b)

have a separate room for evisceration and further dressing, including the addition of seasonings to whole poultry carcases, unless the competent authority authorises separation in time of these operations within a specific slaughterhouse on a case-by-case basis;

(c)

ensure separation in space or time of the following operations:

(i)

stunning and bleeding;

(ii)

plucking or skinning, and any scalding;

and

(iii)

dispatching meat;

(d)

have installations that prevent contact between the meat and the floors, walls and fixtures;

and

(e)

have slaughter lines (where operated) that are designed to allow a constant progress of the slaughter process and to avoid cross-contamination between the different parts of the slaughter line. Where more than one slaughter line is operated in the same premises, there must be adequate separation of the lines to prevent cross-contamination.

3.

They must have facilities for disinfecting tools with hot water supplied at not less than 82 °C, or an alternative system having an equivalent effect.

4.

The equipment for washing hands used by the staff engaged in handling exposed meat must have taps designed to prevent the spread of contamination.

5.

There must be lockable facilities for the refrigerated storage of detained meat and separate lockable facilities for the storage of meat declared unfit for human consumption.

6.

There must be a separate place with appropriate facilities for the cleaning, washing and disinfection of:

(a)

transport equipment such as crates;

and

(b)

means of transport.

These places and facilities are not compulsory for (b) if officially authorised places and facilities exist nearby.

7.

They must have an adequately equipped lockable facility or, where needed, room for the exclusive use of the veterinary service.

CHAPTER III: U.K. REQUIREMENTS FOR CUTTING PLANTS

1. Food business operators must ensure that cutting plants handling meat from poultry or lagomorphs: U.K.

(a)

are constructed so as to avoid contamination of meat, in particular by:

(i)

allowing constant progress of the operations;

or

(ii)

ensuring separation between the different production batches;

(b)

have rooms for the separate storage of packaged and exposed meat, unless stored at different times or in such a way that the packaging material and the manner of storage cannot be a source of contamination for the meat;

(c)

have cutting rooms equipped to ensure compliance with the requirements laid down in Chapter V;

(d)

have equipment for washing hands used by staff handling exposed meat with taps designed to prevent the spread of contamination;

and

(e)

have facilities for disinfecting tools with hot water supplied at not less than 82 °C, or an alternative system having an equivalent effect.

2. If the following operations are undertaken in a cutting plant: U.K.

(a)

the evisceration of geese and ducks reared for the production of ‘ foie gras ’ , which have been stunned, bled and plucked on the fattening farm;

or

(b)

the evisceration of delayed eviscerated poultry,

food business operators must ensure that separate rooms are available for that purpose.

CHAPTER IV: U.K. SLAUGHTER HYGIENE

Food business operators operating slaughterhouses in which poultry or lagomorphs are slaughtered must ensure compliance with the following requirements.

1.

(a)

Meat from animals other than those referred to in (b) must not be used for human consumption if they die otherwise than by being slaughtered in the slaughterhouse.

(b)

Only live animals intended for slaughter may be brought into the slaughter premises, with the exception of:

(i)

delayed eviscerated poultry, geese and ducks reared for the production of ‘ foie gras ’ and birds that are not considered as domestic but which are farmed as domestic animals, if slaughtered at the farm in accordance with Chapter VI;

(ii)

farmed game slaughtered at the place of production in accordance with Section III;

and

(iii)

small wild game in accordance with Section IV, Chapter III.

2.

Slaughterhouse operators must follow the instructions of the competent authority to ensure that ante-mortem inspection is carried out under suitable conditions.

3.

Where establishments are approved for the slaughter of different animal species or for the handling of farmed ratites and small wild game, precautions must be taken to prevent cross contamination by separation either in time or in space of the operations carried out on the different species. Separate facilities for the reception and storage of carcases of farmed ratites slaughtered at the farm and for small wild game must be available.

4.

Animals brought into the slaughter room must be slaughtered without undue delay.

5.

Stunning, bleeding, skinning or plucking, evisceration and other dressing must be carried out without undue delay in such a way that contamination of the meat is avoided. In particular, measures must be taken to prevent the spillage of digestive tract contents during evisceration.

6.

Slaughterhouse operators must follow the instructions of the competent authority to ensure that the post-mortem inspection is carried out under suitable conditions, and in particular that slaughtered animals can be inspected properly.

7.

After post-mortem inspection:

(a)

parts unfit for human consumption must be removed as soon as possible from the clean sector of the establishment;

(b)

meat detained or declared unfit for human consumption and inedible by-products must not come into contact with meat declared fit for human consumption;

and

(c)

viscera or parts of viscera remaining in the carcase, except for the kidneys, must be removed entirely, if possible, and as soon as possible, unless otherwise authorised by the competent authority.

8.

After inspection and evisceration, slaughtered animals must be cleaned and chilled to not more than 4 °C as soon as possible, unless the meat is cut while warm.

9.

When carcases are subjected to an immersion chilling process, account must be taken of the following.

(a)

Every precaution must be taken to avoid contamination of carcases, taking into account parameters such as carcase weight, water temperature, volume and direction of water flow and chilling time.

(b)

Equipment must be entirely emptied, cleaned and disinfected whenever this is necessary and at least once a day.

10.

Sick or suspect animals, and animals slaughtered in application of disease eradication or control programmes, must not be slaughtered in the establishment except when permitted by the competent authority. In that event, slaughter must be performed under official supervision and steps taken to prevent contamination; the premises must be cleaned and disinfected before being used again.

CHAPTER V: U.K. HYGIENE DURING AND AFTER CUTTING AND BONING

Food business operators must ensure that cutting and boning of meat of poultry and lagomorphs takes place in accordance with the following requirements.

1.

The work on meat must be organised in such a way as to prevent or minimise contamination. To this end, food business operators must ensure in particular that:

(a)

meat intended for cutting is brought into the workrooms progressively as needed;

(b)

during cutting, boning, trimming, slicing, dicing, wrapping and packaging, the temperature of the meat is maintained at not more than 4 °C by means of an ambient temperature of 12 °C or an alternative system having an equivalent effect;

and

(c)

where the premises are approved for the cutting of meat of different animal species, precautions are taken to avoid cross-contamination, where necessary by separation of the operations on the different species in either space or time.

2.

However, meat may be boned and cut prior to reaching the temperature referred to in point 1(b) when the cutting room is on the same site as the slaughter premises, provided that it is transferred to the cutting room either:

(a)

directly from the slaughter premises;

or

(b)

after a waiting period in a chilling or refrigerating room.

3.

[F1 As soon as the meat is cut and, where appropriate, packaged, it must be chilled to a temperature of not more than 4 °C.

4.

Meat must attain a temperature of not more than 4 °C before transport, and be maintained at that temperature during transport. However, if the competent authority so authorises, livers for the production of foie gras may be transported at a temperature of more than 4 °C, provided that:

(a)

such transport takes place in accordance with the requirements that the competent authority specifies in respect of transport from one given establishment to another; and

(b)

the meat leaves the slaughterhouse, or a cutting room immediately and transport takes no more than two hours.

5.

Meat derived from poultry and lagomorphs intended for freezing must be frozen without undue delay.

6.

Exposed meat must be stored and transported separately from packaged meat, unless stored or transported at different times or in such a way that the packaging material and the manner of storage or transport cannot be a source of contamination for the meat.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) No 558/2010 of 24 June 2010 amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (Text with EEA relevance).

CHAPTER VI: U.K. SLAUGHTER ON THE FARM

Food business operators may slaughter poultry referred to in Chapter IV, point 1(b)(i), on the farm only with the authorisation of the competent authority and in compliance with the following requirements.

1.

The farm must undergo regular veterinary inspection.

2.

The food business operator must inform the competent authority in advance of the date and time of slaughter.

3.

The holding must have facilities for concentrating the birds to allow an ante-mortem inspection of the group to be made.

4.

The holding must have premises suitable for the hygienic slaughter and further handling of the birds.

5.

Animal welfare requirements must be complied with.

6.

The slaughtered birds must be accompanied to the slaughterhouse by a declaration by the food business operator who reared the animal indicating any veterinary products or other treatments administered to the animal, dates of administration and withdrawal periods, and the date and time of slaughter.

7.

The slaughtered animal must be accompanied to the slaughterhouse by a certificate issued by the official veterinarian or approved veterinarian in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 854/2004.

8.

In the case of poultry reared for the production of ‘ foie gras ’ , the uneviscerated birds must be transported immediately and, if necessary, refrigerated to a slaughterhouse or cutting plant. They must be eviscerated within 24 hours of slaughter under the supervision of the competent authority.

9.

Delayed eviscerated poultry obtained at the farm of production may be kept for up to 15 days at a temperature of not more than 4 °C. It must then be eviscerated in a slaughterhouse or in a cutting plant located [F2 within the United Kingdom].

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in Annex 3 Section 2 Ch. 6 para. 9 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Specific Food Hygiene (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/640), regs. 1, 19(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

[F3 CHAPTER VII: U.K. WATER RETENTION AGENTS

Food business operators shall ensure that poultrymeat that has been treated specifically to promote water retention is not placed on the market as fresh meat but as meat preparations or used for the production of processed products.] ]

Textual Amendments

F3 Inserted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005 of 5 December 2005 laying down implementing measures for certain products under Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and for the organisation of official controls under Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, derogating from Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Regulations (EC) No 853/2004 and (EC) No 854/2004 (Text with EEA relevance).

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (Official Journal of the European Union L 139 of 30 April 2004).