The Food (Meat Inspection) (Scotland) Regulations 1988

PART I General Instructions

1.  The carcase and offal and the blood of each slaughtered animal shall be examined without delay by an inspector. He shall have regard to—

(a) the age and sex of the animal;

(b) the state of nutrition of the animal;

(c) any evidence of bruising or haemorrhage;

(d) any local or general oedema;

(e) the efficiency of bleeding;

(f) any swelling, deformity or other abnormality of bones, joints, musculature or umbilicus;

(g) any abnormality in consistency, colour, odour and, where appropriate, taste;

(h) the condition of the pleura and peritoneum;

(i) any other evidence of abnormality.

2.  The inspection shall include—

(a) palpation of certain organs, in particular the lungs, liver, spleen and tongue and, where considered necessary by the inspector, the uterus and udder;

(b) incisions of organs and lymph nodes as specified in Parts II, III, IV, V, VI and VII of this Schedule.

3.  Where the inspector considers it necessary, incisions and inspection of meat other than those specified in Parts II, III, IV, V, VI and VII of this Schedule shall be undertaken.

4.  Where necessary the inspector shall arrange for laboratory investigations to be carried out.

5.—(1) Any carcase, offal or blood which shows evidence of the diseases or conditions mentioned in the Annex to this Part of this Schedule, or which may for any reason be suspected of being unfit for human consumption, shall be isolated and shall not be removed from the place of isolation until it has been inspected by a veterinary meat inspector.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph, if the veterinary meat inspector is satisfied that the carcase or offal, or any part of the carcase or offal, or the blood is unfit for human consumption he shall give instructions, save in the case to which sub-paragraph (4) applies, that the carcase or offal, or such part of the carcase or offal, or the blood shall not be disposed of for human consumption but shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of any regulations providing for the disposal of an unfit carcase, offal or blood.

(3) If the veterinary meat inspector is satisfied that the carcase or offal, or any part of the carcase or offal, or the blood is derived from an animal which was suffering from any of the diseases specified in the Annex to this Part of this Schedule, he shall, after having made any assessment required by the said Annex, give instructions, save in the case to which sub-paragraph (4) applies, that the carcase or offal, or such part of the carcase or offal as he is by the said Annex in relation to that condition directed to give such instructions, or the blood shall not be disposed of for human consumption but shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of any regulations providing for the disposal of an unfit carcase, offal or blood.

(4) If the veterinary meat inspector has given instructions under sub-paragraphs (2) or (3) that the carcase or offal, or any part of the carcase or offal, or the blood derived from an animal is unfit for human consumption, the provisions of section 9 of the Food and Drugs (Scotland) Act 1956 (which relates to the examination and seizure of unsound food) shall apply in the case of the carcase or offal, or any part of the carcase or offal, or the blood.