S.I. No. 260/1985:

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (FRESH MEAT) (BEEF, PORK AND MUTTON) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1985.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (FRESH MEAT) (BEEF, PORK AND MUTTON) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1985.

I, AUSTIN DEASY, Minister for Agriculture, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 34 of the Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) Act, 1930 (No. 10 of 1930), hereby make the following Regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) (Beef, Pork and Mutton) (Amendment) Regulations, 1985.

(2) These Regulations, the Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) (Beef, Pork and Mutton) Regulations, 1930 to 1942, and the Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) (Beef, Pork and Mutton) (Amendment) Regulations, 1954 ( S.I. No. 145 of 1954 ), may be cited together as the Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) (Beef, Pork and Mutton) Regulations, 1930 to 1985.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of November, 1985.

3. The Seventh Schedule to the Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) (Beef, Pork and Mutton) Regulations, 1930 (S.R. & O.. No. 62 of 1930), is hereby amended by--

( a ) the substitution of the following part for Part I:

"PART I

1. In this Schedule--

'animal remedy' means any substance, preparation, mixture or compound which is capable of administration or application, whether internally or externally and whether in a feeding stuff or not to an animal by any means for the purpose of preventing, diagnosing or treating any injury, disease, ailment or defect or improving its health, condition or efficiency but, subject to the foregoing, does not include a feeding stuff commonly known and used as such,

'relevant period', in relation to a certificate or statutory declaration, means such period not exceeding 90 days immediately before the making of the certificate or declaration, as the veterinary examiner concerned considers appropriate.

1A. Ante mortem examination by veterinary examiners shall include observation and handling and, where the veterinary examiner deems it advisable--

( a ) the taking of temperature;

( b ) the taking of samples, whether of urine, faeces, blood, tissue or otherwise;

( c ) the obtaining of certificates or statutory declarations in respect of an animal from any person who was the owner or person in charge of the animal during the relevant period stating whether or not any hormonal or antibiotic substance or other animal remedy has been administered or applied to the animal concerned during the relevant period and, if any animal remedy has been so administered or applied, stating the date of such administration or application, the name of the animal remedy and the quantity thereof so applied or administered;

( d ) the obtaining of certificates or statutory declarations in respect of an animal from any person who was the owner or person in charge of the animal during the relevant period stating--

(i) whether or not the animal has been under the care of a veterinary surgeon during the period of one year immediately before the making of the certificate or declaration and, if it has been, the name and address of the veterinary surgeon concerned;

(ii) the name and address of any other person who was the owner or person in charge of the animal during the relevant period;

( e ) the obtaining of certificates or statutory declarations in respect of an animal from any veterinary surgeon under whose care the animal has been during the period of one year immediately before the making of the certificate or declaration stating whether or not, to his knowledge, any hormonal or antibiotic substance or other animal remedy has been administered or applied to the animal during the relevant period and, if any animal remedy has been so administered or applied, stating the date of such administration or application, the name of the animal remedy and the quantity thereof so applied or administered.

1B. A veterinary examiner may refuse to pass an animal as fit for slaughter if a certificate or statutory declaration in respect of the animal has been requested by the veterinary examiner and has not been furnished."

( b ) the substitution of the following subparagraphs for subparagraph (y) of paragraph 2 of Part II--

"(y) the presence of hormonal or antibiotic substances or of other animal remedies in the animal,

(z) any other abnormal condition or residue, temporary or otherwise, which, in the opinion of the veterinary examiner, renders meat or offals unfit for food.",

( c ) the insertion of the following paragraph in Part II after paragraph 2:

"2A. An animal may not be passed by a veterinary examiner as fit for slaughter if he reasonably believes that hormonal or antibiotic substances or other animal remedies have been administered or applied to the animal in such manner or quantity or at such a time that residues of the substances or remedies so administered are likely to remain in the edible tissues of the animal after it has been slaughtered.",

( d ) the substitution of the following subparagraphs for subparagraph (e) of paragraph 5 of Part III--

"(e) swelling or deformities of bones or joints, or swellings or other abnormalities in musculature;

( f ) indications of the administration or application to the animal concerned of hormonal or antibiotic substances or of other animal remedies;

( g ) where the veterinary examiner deems it advisable, the presence of residues of hormonal or antibiotic substances or of other animal remedies or of other substances that, in the opinion of the veterinary examiner, render meat or offals unfit for food by means of tests on faeces, urine, blood or tissues or otherwise.", and

( e ) the insertion of the following subparagraphs after subparagraph 34 of paragraph 16 of Part III--

"(35) Indications that a hormonal or antibiotic substance or other animal remedy has been administered or applied to the animal from which the carcase or offals are derived in such a manner or quantity or at such a time that residues of the substance or other remedy are likely to remain in the edible tissues of the carcase or offals of the animal after it has been slaughtered.

(36) Presence of residues or hormonal or antibiotic substances or of other animal remedies administered or applied to the animal from which the carcase or offals are derived.

(37) Presence of residues of other substances that, in the opinion of the veterinary examiner, render meat or offals unfit for food."

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 7th day of August, 1985.

AUSTIN DEASY,

Minister for Agriculture.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations enable veterinary examiners to extend the scope of ante and post mortem examinations of cattle, sheep and pigs in order to check for the presence of hormones, antibiotics or other substances in the animals or in meat derived from them and to reject animals, carcases, meat or offals deemed to be unfit for food.