Abattoirs Act, 1988

Veterinary examination Regulations.

39.—(1) The Minister may make Regulations (in this Act referred to as veterinary examination Regulations) for the purpose of establishing the fitness of meat for human consumption.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, Regulations under this section may provide for all or any of the following matters—

(a) the ante-mortem examination by a veterinary inspector of animals intended for slaughter;

(b) the grounds (including the diseases, conditions or presence of residues) by reason of which animals may not be passed by a veterinary inspector as fit for slaughter;

(c) the post-mortem examination by a veterinary inspector of carcases and offals (including the blood and viscera) of slaughtered animals;

(d) the grounds (including the diseases, conditions or presence of residues or contaminants) by reason of which the meat of any animal may be declared by a veterinary inspector as unfit for human consumption;

(e) the grounds (including the diseases, conditions or presence of residues or contaminants) by reason of which the meat of any animal may be detained for further examination;

(f) the marking (including denaturing and staining), storage and destruction or disposal of meat which is found by a veterinary inspector to be unfit for human consumption, and the giving of directions by a veterinary inspector as to the destruction or disposal of any such unfit meat;

(g) the test methods, standards and requirements for the purpose of determining the fitness of meat for human consumption;

(h) any other matter relating to the fitness of meat for human consumption which the Minister considers to be necessary.

(3) Veterinary examination Regulations may provide that the provisions of the Regulations, subject to such modifications as may be specified therein, shall apply to any animal, other than an animal to which this Act applies, or poultry which, or the carcase, meat and offals of which, a veterinary inspector finds in an abattoir.

(4) Any person who contravenes the provisions of Regulations made under this section shall be guilty of an offence.