TITLE IIISPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL CONTROLS AND THE UNIFORM MINIMUM FREQUENCY FOR OFFICIAL CONTROLS ON FRESH MEAT

CHAPTER III Communication of inspection results and measures to be taken by competent authorities in cases of specific non-compliance with requirements for fresh meat and for animal welfare

Article 39Measures concerning the communication of the results of official controls

1.

The official veterinarian shall record and evaluate the results of official controls carried out in accordance with Articles 7 to Article 38.

2.

The following actions shall be taken by the official veterinarian where inspections reveal the presence of any disease or condition that might affect human or animal health, or compromise animal welfare:

(a)

the official veterinarian shall inform the slaughterhouse operator;

(b)

where the problem referred to in this paragraph arose during primary production and relates to human health, animal health, animal welfare or residues of veterinary medicinal products, unauthorised or prohibited substances, pesticide residues, feed additives or contaminants, the official veterinarian shall inform:

  1. (i)

    the veterinarian attending the holding of provenance;

  2. (ii)

    the official veterinarian who carried out any ante-mortem inspection at the holding of provenance, where different from (i);

  3. (iii)

    the food business operator responsible for the holding of provenance (provided that such information would not prejudice subsequent legal proceedings); and,

  4. (iv)

    the competent authorities responsible for supervising the holding of provenance or the hunting area;

(c)

where the animals concerned were raised in another country, the official veterinarian shall ensure that the country's competent authorities are informed.

3.

The competent authorities shall enter the results of official controls in relevant databases, at least where the collection of such information is required under F1legislation which, immediately before IP completion day, implemented Article 4 of Directive 2003/99/EC, Article 8 of Council Directive 64/432/EEC41 and Annex III to Directive 2007/43/EC.

4.

Where the official veterinarian, while carrying out ante-mortem or post-mortem inspection or any other official control, suspects the presence of an animal disease for which animal health rules are laid down in Regulation (EU) 2016/429, he/she shall notify the competent authorities. The official veterinarian and competent authorities, within their respective areas of competence, shall take all necessary measures and precautions to prevent the possible spread of the disease agent.

5.

The official veterinarian may use the model document in Annex I for the purpose of communicating the relevant results of ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections to the holding of provenance where the animals were kept before slaughter.

F26.

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