Carcase classification and carcase presentation controls in 32 slaughter plants are carried out by a dedicated team of specialist staff in the Beef Carcase Classification Section within my Department.
Additional monitoring of carcase presentation by my Department’s veterinary public health inspection staff (VPHIS) in the factories is currently being implemented in all factories since 1st January 2019 and provide a supporting role for the Beef Carcase Classification staff.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1184 of 20th April 2017 governs the monitoring of carcase classification, carcase presentation and weighing. At each inspection, an average of 85 carcasses are inspected for correct classification and carcase presentation. The legal requirement is 40 carcasses per inspection.
The number of inspections, number of carcasses inspected, the total number of non-compliant carcasses and the respective factories are summarised in the table below:
-
|
Number of
|
Total Number of
|
|
Year
|
Carcasses Inspected
|
Non Compliant Carcasses
|
Names of Factories Fined
|
2016
|
52,360
|
28
|
Kildare Chilling Company (1); Traditional Meats (1); Meadow Meats (10) ; KEPAK Kilbeggan (16)
|
2017
|
53,380
|
0
|
|
2018
|
46,750
|
19
|
Emerald Isle Foods (5) ; Kildare Chiling Company (3) ; KEPAK Clare (11)
|
2019
|
49,300
|
3
|
Kavanagh Meats (3)
|
2020
|
34,425
|
2
|
Ballon Meats (2)
|
2021
|
23,545
|
0
|
|
Details of the factories discovered to be non-compliant under carcase presentation legislation are published on the Department's website annually.