Martin Ferris
Question:205. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria in force for bovine and equine animals being processed at the same time in the same plant. [19572/15]
View answerTuesday, 19 May 2015
Questions (205)
Written answers
Under EU law, primary responsibility for compliance with food safety and species segregation requirements rests in the first instance with food business operators. Slaughter plants producing meat for human consumption must meet the requirements set out in detailed EU regulations generally referred to as the ‘Hygiene Package’. These regulations are implemented in Ireland under the European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations, S.I. No. 432 of 2009.
Regulation (EC) No. 853 of 2004 makes specific reference in relation to species segregation, and provides that where establishments are approved for the slaughter of different animal species or for the handling of carcasses of farmed game and wild game, precautions must be taken to prevent cross-contamination by separation either in time or in space of operations carried out on the different species.
My Department as the competent authority implements official controls designed to verify ongoing compliance by food business operators with the relevant Regulations and with their own Food Safety Management Systems and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans.