Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Slaughter at slaughterhouses

90.—(1) This regulation and regulation 91 apply where, for the purposes of the administration or enforcement of Article 15(2) of, and Chapter B of Annex VIII to, Community TSE Regulation, the Department is satisfied it is necessary to slaughter –

(a)any TSE susceptible animal; or

(b)any animal of first generation progeny of –

(i)a female bovine animal infected with a TSE; or

(ii)a BSE-confirmed ovine or caprine animal.

(2) Where the Department is satisfied that for these purposes it is necessary to slaughter an animal of a description referred to in paragraph (1) at premises licensed under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 an inspector shall so inform the occupier of the premises concerned and direct the occupier to slaughter the animal in such manner and within such period as the inspector directs.

(3) Before an inspector gives an occupier a direction to slaughter an animal under this regulation he shall consider the hygiene, specified risk material and animal welfare requirements with which the occupier must comply at the slaughterhouse in relation to –

(a)the slaughter of the animal; and

(b)any related operation, including –

(i)the handling of the animal before and at slaughter, the handling, storage, treatment and disposal of the carcase, any part of the carcase or any blood derived from the carcase or any part of the carcase; or

(ii)any operation in relation to any other animal or the slaughter of any other animal at the slaughterhouse, including the handling of that animal before and at slaughter, the handling, storage, treatment and disposal of the carcase of that animal, any part of the carcase or any blood derived from the carcase or any part of the carcase.

(4) Where the inspector is satisfied that for the purpose of complying with any of these requirements the occupier must –

(a)slaughter any other animal at the slaughterhouse; or

(b)carry out any such related operation,

the inspector shall direct the occupier to slaughter the other animal or carry out the related operation in such manner and within such period as the inspector directs.

(5) Directions from an inspector to an occupier under this regulation may include directions in relation to –

(a)the keeping and handling before and at slaughter of any animal at the slaughterhouse, whether or not it is to be slaughtered under a direction given under this regulation;

(b)the arrangements for the slaughter at the slaughterhouse of any animal slaughtered under a direction given under this regulation; and

(c)the treatment, storage and disposal of the carcase of any animal slaughtered at the slaughterhouse or any part of the carcase or any blood derived from the carcase or any part of the carcase.

(6) Any direction under this regulation shall be complied with at the expense of the person to whom the direction is given.

(7) If a direction under this regulation is not complied with, an inspector may arrange for it to be complied with and any costs reasonably incurred by an inspector in respect of such an arrangement shall be recoverable as a debt from the person who has failed to comply with the direction.