The Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992

PART VI SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR SOLIPEDS

1.  In the case of solipeds the inspection shall include—

(a) visual examination of the head and, after freeing the tongue, the throat for which purpose the submaxillary, retro-pharyngeal and parotid lymph nodes shall be palpated and, where considered necessary by an inspector or official veterinary surgeon, incised; and visual examination and palpation of the tongue, having been freed to permit a detailed examination of the mouth and the fauces shall be carried out;

(b) visual examination of the trachea and lungs; for which purpose palpation of the lungs, the bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes shall be carried out and, where an inspector or official veterinary surgeon considers it necessary, the lymph nodes shall be examined in detail; and where the lungs are intended for human consumption, the trachea and the main branches of the bronchi shall be opened lengthwise and the lungs shall be incised in their posterior third at right angles to their main axes;

(c) visual examination of the pericardium and the heart; the latter shall be incised lengthwise so as to open the ventricles and to cut through the intraventricular septum;

(d) visual examination of the diaphragm;

(e) visual examination and palpation of the liver and the hepatic lymph nodes; visual examination of the pancreatic lymph nodes; and, where an inspector or official veterinary surgeon considers it necessary, incision of the liver and the hepatic and pancreatic lymph nodes;

(f) visual examination of the alimentary tract, the mesentery, the gastric and mesenteric lymph nodes; and where an inspector or official veterinary surgeon considers it necessary, the gastric and mesenteric lymph nodes shall be examined in detail;

(g) visual examination and palpation of the spleen;

(h) visual examination and palpation of the kidneys, and, where an inspector or official veterinary surgeon considers it necessary, incision of the kidneys and examination in detail of the renal lymph nodes;

(i) visual examination of the pleura and peritoneum;

(j) visual examination of the genital organs of stallions and mares except the penis if it has been discarded in accordance with sub-paragraph 1(f) of Schedule 9;

(k) visual examination of the udder and the supramammary lymph nodes; and, where an inspector or official veterinary surgeon considers it necessary, the supramammary lymph nodes shall be examined in detail;

(l) visual examination and palpation of the umbilical region and joints of young animals; and, where an inspector or official veterinary surgeon considers it necessary, the umbilical region shall be incised and the joints shall be opened; and

(m) for all grey or white horses, an examination for melanosis and melanomata; the attachment of one shoulder shall be loosened to allow examination of the muscles and the prescapular lymph node, and the kidneys shall be examined after splitting by a longitudinal incision which exposes both cortex and medulla.

2.  An investigation for glanders shall be carried out by means of careful examination of mucous membranes of the trachea, larynx, nasal cavities, sinuses and their ramifications, after splitting the head in the median plane and excision of the nasal septum.