PART IICONTENTS OF A REQUIRED METHOD OF OPERATION (RMOP)
Animal identification and separation
1.—(1) The RMOP (as specified in paragraph 13 of Part I) must describe the system that—
(a)enables bovine animals born or reared in the United Kingdom before 1st August 1996 to be identified and ensures that they are not slaughtered for human consumption;
(b)enables bovine animals that, in accordance with point 2(1) of Part I of Chapter A of Annex III to the EU TSE Regulation, require to be sampled and tested for BSE, to be identified and ensures they are sampled in accordance with this Schedule; and
(c)enables bovine animals that, in accordance with point 2(2) of Part I of Chapter A of Annex III to the EU TSE Regulation, require BSE testing at slaughter to be identified and ensures that they are sampled in accordance with this Schedule.
(2) The requirements of sub-paragraph (1)(b) and (c) apply only in relation to bovine animals born and reared in the United Kingdom on or after 1st August 1996.
(3) The RMOP must also describe the system that ensures that the animals to which sub-paragraphs (1) (b) and (c) applies are—
(a)batched together before slaughter separately from those not referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(b) and (c); and
(b)slaughtered in their batches separately from those not referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(b) and (c).
(4) For the purposes of this paragraph, a bovine animal is deemed to have been born and reared in the United Kingdom before 1st August 1996 unless records held by the Department or any cattle passport in relation to that animal shows either that—
(a)it was born in the United Kingdom on or after 1st August 1996; or
(b)it first entered the United Kingdom on or after 1st August 1996.
Brain stem sampling
2.—(1) The RMOP must show that there are—
(a)sufficient staff trained and competent in the taking, labelling, packaging and dispatch of brain stem samples;
(b)hygienic facilities for sampling; and
(c)sampling procedures that do not jeopardise the hygienic production of meat intended for human consumption.
(2) It must describe how health and safety guidelines designed to minimise the risk of exposure of staff to TSE during brain stem sampling and packaging will be complied with.
Correlation of sample to carcase and all other parts of the body
3. The RMOP must describe the system linking the brain stem sample of each bovine animal to which paragraph 1 (1) (b) and (c) applies, to the carcase of that animal and all parts of the body of that animal (including the blood and the hide).
Retention of carcases
4. The RMOP must describe—
(a)the system that ensures that the chronological order in which the animals were slaughtered can be determined;
(b)the system that ensures that all carcases retained in accordance with paragraph 14(1) of Part I are retained in slaughter order or as laid down in the RMOP either in a sealed or locked chiller or on a sealed or locked rail in an unsealed chiller pending the receipt of the BSE test result; and
(c)how the occupier will ensure that there is suitable and sufficient chiller space for retaining carcases for the purposes of this Schedule.
Retention of parts of the body
5. The RMOP must describe the system that ensures that all parts of the body (including the blood and the hide) are retained in accordance with paragraph 14(1) of Part I of this Schedule.
Disposal before receipt of the result
6. The RMOP must describe the disposal route for all carcases and all parts of the body (including the blood and the hide) retained pending receipt of the BSE test result but disposed of before the test result is received.
Other measures following brain stem sampling
7. The RMOP must describe the systems in place that ensure that—
(a)brain stem samples are packaged in accordance with packaging instructions P650 of the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (version applicable as from 2009(1)) and delivered in a testable condition to an approved testing laboratory;
(b)BSE test results are received, either by fax or by other electronic means; and
(c)all carcases or parts of carcases required to be disposed of in accordance with point 6(4) or 6(5) of Part I of Chapter A of Annex III to the EU TSE Regulation or under paragraphs 14(2) and (3) of Part I of this Schedule are identified and disposed of accordingly.
ISBN 978-92-1-139131-2