The Cattle Identification Regulations 1998

Eartags missing at a slaughterhouse

7.—(1) If the operator of a slaughterhouse discovers that an animal which should have been tagged in accordance with these Regulations has only one eartag he may, under the authority of a licence granted by the appropriate Minister, slaughter the animal for human consumption without replacing the relevant eartag but may not otherwise slaughter the animal for human consumption.

(2) If the operator of a slaughterhouse discovers that an animal which should have been tagged in accordance with these Regulations has no eartags, he shall not slaughter it for human consumption but may return it to the previous keeper under the authority of a licence granted by the appropriate Minister.

(3) If the operator of a slaughterhouse discovers that an animal which should have been tagged under one of the cattle tagging Orders does not have an eartag he shall not slaughter it for human consumption except under the authority of a licence granted by the appropriate Minister.

(4) If any person slaughters an animal contrary to the provisions of this regulation the operator of the slaughterhouse shall be guilty of an offence.

(5) Without prejudice to paragraph (4) above, if an animal without either eartag is slaughtered in contravention of this regulation the operator of the slaughterhouse shall identify the carcase as an animal by-product in accordance with the Animal By-Products (Identification) Regulations 1995(1) and dispose of it in accordance with the Animal By-Products Order 1992(2) unless the official veterinary surgeon is satisfied as to the identity of the animal and serves a notice on the operator allowing it to be used for human consumption.

(1)

S.I. 1995/614 as amended by S.I. 1997/2073.

(2)

S.I. 1992/3303 as amended by S.I. 1996/827 and S.I. 1997/2894.