Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (repealed)Show full title

CHAPTER V: DECISIONS CONCERNING MEAT

1. Meat is to be declared unfit for human consumption if it:

(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 this Regulation or Regulation (EC) No .../2004(1);

(c)

derives from animals which are dead before slaughter, 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 otherwise provided for in Section IV;

(f)

derives from animals affected by a 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;

(i)

contains residues or contaminants in excess of the levels laid down in Community legislation. Any overshooting of the relevant level should lead to additional analyses whenever appropriate;

(j)

without prejudice to more specific Community legislation, derives from animals or carcases containing residues of forbidden substances or from animals that have been treated with forbidden substances;

(k)consists of the liver and kidneys of animals more than two 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 substances;

(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 patho-physiological changes, anomalies in consistency, insufficient bleeding (except for wild game) or organoleptic anomalies, in particular a pronounced sexual odour;

(q)

derives from emaciated animals;

(r)

contains specified 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 or animal 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 or animal health or is for any other reason not suitable for human consumption.

2. The official veterinarian may impose requirements concerning the use of meat derived from animals having undergone emergency slaughter outside the slaughterhouse.

(1)

Note for Official Journal: Insert No of Regulation laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (see recital 1, 2nd Regulation).