Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Alternative accommodation for certain animals

14.—(1) An OVS or a Meat Inspector acting under the supervision of an OVS may require the accommodation or alternative methods of operation and facilities referred to in paragraph 1(d) of Schedule 2 and paragraph 1(n) of Part II of Schedule 5 to be used for—

(a) the slaughtering and dressing of any animal which is brought into a slaughterhouse and which is known to be, or suspected of being, diseased or injured; or

(b) the dressing of any slaughtered and bled animal which is brought into a slaughterhouse in accordance with regulation 17.

(2) So long as any requirement to use alternative accommodation in such circumstances, or to prohibit the entry of a dirty animal in the circumstances set out in paragraph (3), is in effect, the licence in respect of the premises shall be treated as being altered by the addition of that requirement and the other provisions of the licence shall be subject to that requirement.

(3) A Meat Inspector or OVS—

(a) may require the detention in a lairage, or prohibit the slaughter, of any animal which in his opinion is so dirty as to be likely to prevent hygienic dressing operations if it is taken into the slaughterhall at that slaughterhouse; and

(b) may require the occupier of the slaughterhouse to clean the animal before presenting it to an OVS for an ante-mortem inspection.

(4) In the case of a slaughtered and bled animal which is brought into a slaughterhouse or farmed game processing facility in accordance with regulation 17 or paragraph (l)(g) of Part I of Schedule 6, a Meat Inspector or OVS may give notice that in his opinion any such animal is so dirty as to be likely to prevent hygienic dressing operations if it is taken into the slaughterhall at that slaughterhouse or the dressing room at that farmed game processing facility, and if such notice is given the occupier of the premises shall not take the animal in.