Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

(a) the occupier may make representation on the suspension or revocation to a person appointed for the purpose by the Department;

(b) the appointed person shall consider the representations and report in writing to the Department;

(c) upon receiving that report, the Department shall affirm the decision of the official veterinary surgeon or—


(i) if that decision is to suspend the agreement, lift the suspension;

(ii) if that decision is to revoke the agreement, reinstate it or reinstate but suspend it,



as it thinks appropriate; and

(d) the Department shall give the operator written notification of its determination and the reasons for it.

    (4) The occupier of the slaughterhouse shall ensure that the provisions contained in the relevant agreement relating to that slaughterhouse are complied with in relation to each relevant bovine animal slaughtered there.

    (5) Where a relevant bovine animal has been slaughtered otherwise than in accordance with a relevant agreement an inspector may give to the occupier of the slaughterhouse in question a direction for the disposal of—

(a) the carcase of that relevant bovine animal; and

(b) all other parts of the body of that animal including the blood and the hide.

    (6) Where an inspector gives a direction under paragraph (5) the owner of the carcase shall not be entitled to any compensation under these Regulations in respect of that carcase and the other parts of the body of the animal including the blood and the hide.

    (7) If a person to whom a direction has been given under paragraph (5) fails to comply with the direction an inspector may arrange for it to be complied with—

(a) without prejudice to any proceedings arising out of such default; and

(b) at the expense of the person to whom the direction was given.

    (8) Paragraphs (5) to (7) are without prejudice to paragraph (3) or to any proceedings arising out of contravention of paragraph (1) or failure to comply with paragraph (4).

    (9) In this regulation—

(a) the condition contained in paragraph 2.IB(c) of Annex IV; or

(b) the derogations from that condition contained in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of that paragraph.

    (2) The Department shall authorise an establishment in relation to the production of feedingstuffs for the purposes of—

(a) the condition contained in paragraph 2.IB(c) of Annex IV; and

(b) the derogations from that condition contained in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of that paragraph,

if, following an inspection of the premises by a veterinary inspector, the Department is satisfied that the premises are capable of being operated in accordance with the relevant requirements of Annex IV.

    (3) In paragraphs (1) and (2) "Annex IV" means Annex IV to the Community TSE Regulation.".

(a) uses or stores any feedingstuff containing fishmeal for feeding to non-ruminant farmed animals; and

(b) fails to comply with paragraph 2.IB(f) of Annex IV to the Community TSE Regulation,

shall be guilty of an offence.

    (2) For the purposes of the derogation in paragraph 2.IB(f) of that Annex a person shall not use or store any feedingstuff containing fishmeal on premises where ruminants are kept unless he is registered by the Department for that purpose in accordance with paragraph (3).

    (3) The Department shall grant a registration under paragraph (2) where the occupier declares in writing that measures are implemented on the premises in question to prevent the feedingstuffs being fed to ruminant animals on those premises.

    (4) A person who fails to comply with paragraph (2) shall be guilty of an offence.

    (5) A person guilty of an offence under this regulation shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term of three months or both; or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.

(a) without prejudice to any proceedings arising out of such default; and

(b) at the expense of the person on whom the notice is served.

    (6) An inspector may only carry out or cause to be carried out the requirements of a notice referred to in paragraph (5) if the Department has confirmed the notice pursuant to paragraph (4).".

(a) all specified risk material, excluding the vertebral column, is removed from the carcase as soon as is reasonably practicable after the animal has been slaughtered and before the carcase is presented for inspection pursuant to regulation 35;

(b) where the carcase or any part of the carcase contains vertebral column which is not specified risk material, that carcase or part—


(i) is labelled in accordance with point 14(a) of Part A of Annex XI to the Community TSE Regulation; or

(ii) is consigned to cutting premises licensed under regulation 56(1) as soon as is reasonably practicable for the removal of the vertebral column at those premises in accordance with regulation 36(1).

    (1A) A person shall not label the carcase or any part of the carcase of a bovine animal containing vertebral column which is specified risk material in accordance with point 14(a) of Part A of Annex XI to the Community TSE Regulation as if it were a carcase or part of a carcase containing vertebral column which is not specified risk material.".

(a) which is not labelled in accordance with regulation 33(1)(b)(i) is consigned as referred to in regulation 33(1)(b)(ii) to licensed cutting premises; or

(b) is imported and transported in accordance with the Community TSE Regulation or the Community Transitional Measures to licensed cutting premises,

the occupier of that cutting premises shall ensure that the vertebral column is removed from the rest of the carcase at the premises as soon as is practicable after the arrival of the carcase there and before the carcase is presented for inspection pursuant to regulation 35(3).".

(a) a carcase;

(b) a half carcase;

(c) a half carcase cut into no more than three wholesale cuts; and

(d) quarters,

containing no specified risk material other than the vertebral column.".

(a) it is not more than 12 months of age; or

(b) there is no permanent incisor erupted through the gum; and

(c) the spleen and the ileum have been removed,

the carcase of the animal shall be marked with a young lamb stamp or a young goat stamp as appropriate.

    (2) A young lamb stamp and a young goat stamp shall consist of a circular mark 5 centimetres in diameter containing in legible form in capital letters one centimetre high—

(a) "VS"; and

(b) in the case of a sheep, "YL"; or

(c) in the case of a goat, "YG".

    (3) No person other than—

(a) an official veterinary surgeon;

(b) an authorised officer; or

(c) a meat inspector acting under the responsibility of an official veterinary surgeon,

may apply a young lamb stamp or a young goat stamp or possess the equipment for applying such a stamp.

    (4) A person shall not use any stamp resembling a young lamb stamp or a young goat stamp in such a way as to suggest that the carcase of any animal other than an animal referred to in paragraph (1) is such a carcase.

    (5) In relation to any slaughterhouse or cutting premises the Agency may appoint as meat inspectors such persons as are necessary to assist the official veterinary surgeon and authorised officer in carrying out their functions under paragraph (3).".

(a) a bovine animal born or reared in the United Kingdom or imported into the United Kingdom before 1st August 1996;

(b) a bovine animal born or reared in the United Kingdom or imported into the United Kingdom on or after 1st August 1996;

(c) a bovine animal referred to in (a) or (b) which is subject to slaughter ordered by a veterinary surgeon following an accident or serious physiological or functional problems;

(d) a bovine animal referred to in (a) or (b) which is, or is suspected of, suffering from—


(i) a disease which is communicable to humans or animals; or

(ii) a disease or disorder of its general condition which is likely to make its meat unfit for human consumption;



(e) a bovine animal referred to in (a) or (b) which has, or is suspected of having—



(i) had administered to it substances with pharmacological effects; or

(ii) consumed substances,



which may make its meat unfit for human consumption.

     2. There must be a reliable system for ensuring that no bovine animal born or reared in the United Kingdom before 1st August 1996 or imported into the United Kingdom before 1st August 1996 is slaughtered for human consumption.

     3. A bovine animal which is over 30 months of age but born in the United Kingdom on or after 1st August 1996 or imported into the United Kingdom on or after 1st August 1996 must be clearly identified.

     4. Bovine animals which are over 30 months of age but born in the United Kingdom on or after 1st August 1996 or imported into the United Kingdom on or after 1st August 1996 and bovine animals which are 30 months of age and under must be separated into batches for subsequent separate slaughter.

Brain stem sampling
     5. There must be sufficient slaughterhouse staff trained and competent in the taking, labelling, packaging and despatch of brain stem samples. Health and safety guidelines to minimise the risk of exposure to bovine spongiform encephalopathy must be followed and hygienic facilities must be provided. Sampling procedures must not jeopardise the hygienic production of meat intended for human consumption.

Correlation of sample to carcase and all other body parts
     6. There must be a reliable system for linking the brain stem sample of each bovine animal over 30 months of age to the carcase of that animal and all other parts of the body of that animal including the blood and the hide.

Retention of carcases and all other body parts
     7. Unless there is a system in place at the slaughterhouse in question which prevents contamination between carcases there must be a reliable system (including the provision of suitable and sufficient chiller space) for ensuring that the carcase of a bovine animal tested for bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("the tested animal") plus the carcase of—

(a) the bovine animal immediately preceding the tested animal; and

(b) each of the two bovine animals immediately following the tested animal,

on the slaughter line are retained in slaughter order either in a sealed chiller or on a sealed rail in an unsealed chiller, pending the receipt of the results of the rapid test.

     8. Where there is a system in place at the slaughterhouse in question which prevents contamination between carcases there must be a reliable system (including the provision of suitable and sufficient chiller space) for ensuring that the carcase of a bovine animal tested for bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("the tested animal") is retained in either a sealed chiller or on a sealed rail in an unsealed chiller pending the receipt of the results of the rapid test.

     9. There must also be a reliable system (including the provision of suitable and sufficient chiller space) for ensuring that—

(a) all parts of the body, including the blood and hide, but excluding the carcase ("the body parts") of a tested animal plus the body parts of—


(i) the bovine animal immediately preceding the tested animal; and

(ii) the two bovine animals immediately following the tested animal,



on the slaughter line; and

(b) mixed batches of the body parts of both a tested animal and any other bovine animal,