The Animals, Meat and Meat Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum limits) Regulations 1991

Beta-agonists in animals and carcases

18.  –

(1) Where–

(a) the analysis of a sample taken from an animal shows that it contains a residue of a beta-agonist and an authorised officer informs the owner of the animal of this; or

(b) an authorised officer reasonably suspects that a carcase at a slaughterhouse contains such a residue and informs the owner of the carcase of this,

an authorised officer may, by notice in writing given to the owner of the animal or carcase, require him to produce, within five days of the date of the notice, documentary evidence of the authorisation by a veterinary surgeon of the administration to the animal,or, in the case of a carcase, the animal from which that carcase was derived, of a beta-agonist and, in the event of no such evidence being produced to an authorised officer within such period, any such beta-agonist shall be deemed to be an unlicensed substance.

(2) Where a beta-agonist in an animal has been deemed to be an unlicensed substance under paragraph (1) above and it appears to an authorised officer on further examination that the beta-agonist is present in that animal the provisions of regulations 15(3), (6), (7) and (8) shall apply in respect of that animal as they apply to an animal which an examination specified in regulation 14(2)(b) has shown contains an unlicensed substance.

(3) Where a notice has been given in relation to a carcase under paragraph (1) above,the provisions of regulation 19(2) and (3) shall apply in respect of that carcase as if a notice under regulation 19(1) had been given in relation to it.