APPLICATION OF CRITERIA OF INSPECTION FOR EVALUATION OF CLEANLINESS IN CATTLE PRESENTED FOR SLAUGHTER

Abstract

First Codex Alimentarius, in international field, then EC Regulation 853/2004 ensure that animals that have such hide, skin or fleece conditions that there is an unacceptable risk of contamination of the meat during slaughter are not slaughtered for human consumption unless they are cleaned beforehand. In order to comply with such provisions, the operators must ensure that proper procedures have been fixed; the evaluation of such procedures is a priority for the Official Vet who must define standards of cleanliness. The authors take into account three different guidance schemes from Belgian and UK Food Safety Authorities and from the French Institut de l’Élevage in order to better classify cattle cleanliness at slaughter.

Keywords

• Slaughter, clean cattle, ante-mortem inspection, clean livestock, red meat safety