The Specified Risk Material (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

1.  These Regulations amend the Specified Risk Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 (“the principal Regulations”).

2.  The amendments made by these Regulations have the effect of allowing the export to certain premises in France of carcases of older sheep containing spinal cord which is “specified risk material” as defined in regulation 2(1) of the principal Regulations.

3.  The amendments disapply regulation 6(1) of the principal Regulations (prohibition on selling for human consumption specified risk material or food containing same) and part of regulation 9(2) of those Regulations (requirement for slaughterhouse operator to remove specified risk material from carcases of sheep slaughtered there) in the case of sheep carcases containing spinal cord which is specified risk material which are intended for export whole direct to listed premises.

4.  A new regulation (regulation 16A) is inserted in the principal Regulations, requiring the marking of those sheep carcases containing spinal cord which is specified risk material which are intended for export whole direct to listed premises.

5.  Amendments are also made to regulation 17 of the principal Regulations (transportation of unmarked carcases of sheep and goats) to ensure that sheep carcases concerned are moved in sealed vehicles and are accompanied by appropriate documentation during transport.

6.  Regulation 19 of the principal Regulations (possession of unmarked carcases of sheep and goats) is also amended—

(a) to ensure, first, that a person transporting the sheep carcases concerned (those containing spinal cord which is specified risk material and which are intended for export whole direct to listed premises) has in his possession appropriate documentation and, second, that the carcases are appropriately marked; and

(b) to enable the carcases concerned to be brought within the scope of Article 8 of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (S.I. 1991 No. 762 (N.I. 7)) (inspection and seizure of suspected food).

7.  A further new regulation (regulation 19A) is inserted in the principal Regulations imposing requirements with respect to the arrival of the carcases concerned at the listed premises to which it was intended they should be transported.