|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
From: TSS ()
Zone 311, 1A Page Street, London, SW1P 4PQ Fax: 020 7904 6325 Email: stuart.roberts@defra.gsi.gov.uk Telephone 020 7904 6314 GTN: 3290 6314 Website www.defra.gov.uk Dear Abattoir Operator 1. Slaughter of Over Thirty Month (OTM) Cattle and related issues As you will be aware, the UK Government has announced that the OTM rule is to be replaced with a robust system of BSE testing of cattle born on or after 1 August 1996. The information in this letter is important, whether or not you intend to slaughter OTM cattle for human consumption. It does not cover the OTM approval process. If you are interested in being approved to slaughter OTM cattle and have not already applied, please contact the MHS OTM Approvals Team on 01904 456193 or email them at otm.approvals@mhs.foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk. 2. Consignment of cattle born before 1 August 1996 to a red meat slaughterhouse supplying the human food chain These animals must be excluded from the human food chain. If any of these older cattle are found at any red meat slaughterhouse (whether or not it is approved to slaughter OTM cattle for human consumption) the animal will need to be killed in the lairage and notified as fallen stock. In GB, fallen stock should be notified to the TSE Surveillance Helpline on 0800 525890 for BSE testing and disposal free of charge. However, no compensation will be payable on the animal. Any such incidence should be immediately brought to the attention of your OVS. Any person consigning such an animal(s) to a red meat slaughterhouse will have committed an offence under UK law. All fresh meat abattoirs should ensure that their procurement and lairage procedures, as well as their HACCP plan, are updated to cover this eventuality. 3. Consignment of cattle born on or after 1 August 1996 to a red meat slaughterhouse which is not approved to slaughter OTM cattle Cattle born on or after 1 August 1996 destined for human consumption following BSE testing, should be consigned to an abattoir which has been specifically approved to slaughter these animals. However, if any are found at a non-approved fresh meat slaughterhouse, they must be treated as fallen stock (as detailed above). No compensation will be paid. All fresh meat abattoirs not handling OTM cattle, should 10 October 2005 ensure that their procurement and lairage procedures, as well as their HACCP plan, are updated to cover this eventuality. 4. Cattle subject to emergency slaughter on farm New rules on the emergency slaughter of animals will come into place from 1 January 2006. From that date, where cattle are slaughtered on farm, only those animals that have suffered an accident will be eligible for human consumption (or considered fit for human consumption as required for entry into the Over Thirty Month Scheme – OTMS, or the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme - OCDS). Abattoirs slaughtering OTM cattle for the food chain are being encouraged to apply these new rules immediately. Information on these new rules has been circulated to all UK cattle keepers, veterinary practitioners and OVSs, and a booklet is enclosed with this letter for your reference. 5. Coding of Brainstem Samples in Fresh Meat Abattoirs Fresh meat abattoirs not approved to slaughter OTM animals, but which sample 24-30 month casualty cattle for human consumption, will need to use from 1 November, one of two new codes in the paperwork accompanying the samples to the testing laboratory (LGC). These are: CC24 AM – for all 24-30 month casualty animals identified at ante mortem inspection (These may have been submitted with a Schedule 18 certificate); CC24 ES – for all casualty animals subject to Emergency Slaughter on farm (Schedule 19 animals). Fresh Meat abattoirs approved to slaughter OTM cattle for human consumption should use the following codes: HUM-H for all healthy OTM cattle slaughtered for human consumption; HUM-CAM for all casualty animals identified at ante mortem (these may have been submitted with a Schedule 18 certificate animals); HUM-CES for all casualty animals subject to emergency slaughter on farm (Schedule 19 animals). Further information and details on the use of the above codes, and how to forward samples to an approved testing laboratory, is available from the LGC Customer Care Team on tel. 01928 511678 (email bse.services@lgc.co.uk). Please note that failure to use one of the above codes, or the use of the incorrect code, will result in LGC having to report an ‘outstanding’ result which will mean that the carcase and other parts of the body of the affected animal(s) cannot be health marked and released for human consumption. This will remain the case until LGC has received the missing or corrected information and are able to report a result. 6. Requirement for blue stripe labelling of carcases from under 30 month cattle containing vertebral column The Food Standards Agency has written to you separately on these requirements (letter dated 29 September). If you have any queries on any of the above, please contact Sinjini Mukherjee, on 020 7904 6375 (e-mail sinjini.mukherjee@defra.gsi.gov.uk). yours Sincerely Stuart Roberts BSE Division http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/pdf/industry101005.pdf Area 311 1A Page Street London SW1P 4PQ Telephone 0207 904 6000 Website www.defra.gov.uk 14 October 2005 To All Registered Cattle Keepers Our ref CUL 196M Dear Sir/Madam REPLACEMENT OF THE OVER THIRTY MONTHS (OTM) RULE WITH BSE TESTING FOR ALL CATTLE BORN AFTER 31 JULY 1996 As you may know, the OTM rule, which bans OTM cattle from the food chain, is expected to be replaced with effect from 7 November 2005. From that date, OTM cattle may go into the food chain but will be subject to new BSE testing arrangements. Cattle born or reared in the UK before 1 August 1996 will remain excluded. These changes are subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary new legislation. Abattoirs must be approved to handle OTM cattle. To be approved there must be a written agreement between an abattoir and the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) who will be responsible for enforcing the necessary standards in abattoirs. Before sending OTM cattle to an abattoir for slaughter you should check with that abattoir that it can handle OTM animals. Animals sent to the wrong slaughterhouse will usually be killed and disposed of without compensation. Only OTM cattle that receive a negative test result for BSE under the new system will be allowed into the food chain. Compensation will be payable on OTM cattle which test positive for BSE and which are therefore excluded from the food chain. 1. New legal offence Any cattle born or reared in the UK before 1 August 1996, which includes all cattle (including imported cattle) kept in the UK before that date, remain excluded from the food chain. To help ensure that none of these older cattle enter the human food chain, there will be a new legal offence of sending cattle born or reared in the UK before August 1996 to abattoirs producing meat for human consumption. For cattle born before 1 August 1996, Defra is discussing with the European Commission a voluntary compensation scheme (the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme (OCDS)) which is expected to run for three years. The OCDS will succeed the current Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS) but is not expected to be in operation until January at the earliest. It should be noted that the OTMS will remain in place until the OCDS is implemented. In this interim period you will be able to send cattle born after July 1996: either: • for human consumption at an abattoir approved to slaughter OTM cattle; or • for disposal under the OTMS. Cattle born before 1 August 1996 will continue to be excluded from the food chain and will continue to be disposed of under the OTMS. Please note that when the OTMS is replaced only cattle born before August 1996 will be eligible for the OCDS. Further information on the OCDS will be sent to you once the details of the new Scheme are finalised. In the interim if you have any queries on the OTMS or OCDS please contact Livestock Strategy Division on 0207 238 3149 or email emma.boyd@defra.gsi.gov.uk. 2. Cattle subject to emergency slaughter on farm New rules on the emergency slaughter of animals will come into place from 1 January 2006. From that date, where cattle are slaughtered on farm, only those animals that have suffered an accident will be eligible for human consumption (or considered fit for human consumption as required by the OTMS or the OCDS). Where an OTM animal has been slaughtered on farm, and is eligible for human consumption, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is sent to an abattoir that can handle OTM animals. Abattoirs slaughtering OTM cattle for the food chain are being encouraged to apply these new rules immediately. A laminated leaflet explaining the new rules on emergency slaughter on farm is enclosed. 3. Residues of veterinary medicines and other substances A guidance note on protecting the food chain from unacceptable veterinary residues is also enclosed. 4. Beef Export ban The UK is currently working with the European Commission on lifting export restrictions. However, any change to the current restrictions is not expected to come into effect before early 2006. 5. Fallen Stock: cattle that die on farm or are killed other than for human consumption A reminder: • For cattle aged over 24 months, please complete details of death in the passport or registration document and telephone 0800 525890 (GB) for free collection of the carcase for BSE testing and disposal. The passport or document should stay with the animal, to be collected at the same time • For cattle aged 24 months or less, please complete details of death in the passport or registration document and send it to BCMS. Please dispose of the carcase in accordance with the Animal By-products Regulations. 6. Cattle Identification Please make sure that your cattle are properly tagged and that you meet legal deadlines and requirements for reporting births, movements and deaths and maintaining farm records. Failure to do so may lead to potential prosecution under cattle identification legislation and may also affect your single farm payment. Cattle that are sent for slaughter which do not meet cattle identification requirements may be disposed of without compensation. If you are in any doubt about these rules, please contact BCMS on 0845 050 1234 If you have any queries on the content of this letter, or have any other questions on OTM cattle for human consumption, please call me on 0207 904 6314, or my colleague Andy Cooke on 0207 904 6324. Alternatively, you can e-mail Andy at andy.cooke@defra.gsi.gov.uk. Yours faithfully Stuart Roberts Head of TSE Testing Branch http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/pdf/england141005.pdf SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE Environment and Rural Affairs Department Food and Agriculture Group To: All registered cattle keepers in Scotland Pentland House 47 Robb’s Loan Edinburgh EH14 1TY Telephone: 0131-244 6412 Fax: 0131-244 4297 mailto:ScottishTSEregs@scotland.gsi.gov.uk Dear Sir/Madam REPLACEMENT OF THE OVER THIRTY MONTHS (OTM) RULE WITH BSE TESTING FOR ALL CATTLE BORN AFTER 31 JULY 1996 As you may know, the OTM rule, which bans OTM cattle from the food chain, is to be replaced with effect from 7 November 2005. From that date, OTM cattle may go into the food chain but will be subject to new BSE testing arrangements. Cattle born or reared in the UK before 1 August 1996 will remain excluded. Abattoirs must be approved to handle OTM cattle. To be approved there must be a written agreement between the abattoir and the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS). Before sending OTM cattle to an abattoir for slaughter you should check with that abattoir that it can handle OTM animals. OTM animals sent to non-approved slaughterhouse will usually be killed and disposed of without compensation. Only OTM cattle that receive a negative test result for BSE under the new system will be allowed into the food chain. 1. New legal offence Any cattle born or or reared in the UK before 1 August 1996, which includes all cattle (including imported cattle) kept in the UK before that date, remain excluded from the food chain. To help ensure that none of these older cattle enter the human food chain, from 7th November, there will be a new legal offence prohibiting cattle born or reared in the UK before August 1996 being sent to abattoirs producing meat for human consumption. For cattle born before 1 August 1996, we are discussing with the European Commission a voluntary compensation scheme, (the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme (OCDS)), which is expected to run for three years. The OCDS will succeed the Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS) but is not expected to be in operation until early January 2006 at the earliest. Until OCDS is launched, the OTMS will remain in place. Therefore in the interim period, you will be able to send cattle born after July 1996: either: • for human consumption at an abattoir approved to slaughter OTM cattle; or • for disposal under the OTMS. Cattle born before August 1996 remain eligible for disposal under the OTMS. Please note that once the OTMS closes only cattle born before August 1996 will be eligible for the OCDS. Further information on the OCDS will be sent to you once the details of the new Scheme are finalised. In the interim if you have any queries on the OTMS or OCDS please contact John Burns on 0131 244 3105 or by e-mail at john.burns2@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. 2. Cattle subject to emergency slaughter on farm New rules on the emergency slaughter of animals will come into place from 1 January 2006. From that date, where cattle are slaughtered on farm, only those animals that have suffered an accident will be eligible for human consumption (or considered fit for human consumption as required by the OTMS or the OCDS). Where an OTM animal has been slaughtered on farm, and is eligible for human consumption, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is sent to an abattoir that can handle OTM animals. Abattoirs slaughtering OTM cattle for the food chain are being encouraged to apply these new rules immediately. Two leaflets are enclosed: a laminated leaflet explaining the new rules on emergency slaughter on farm and a guidance note on protecting the food chain from unacceptable veterinary residues. 3. Beef Export ban The UK is currently working with the European Commission on lifting the export restrictions. However, any change to the current restrictions is not expected to come into effect before early 2006. 4. Cattle Identification Please make sure that your cattle are properly tagged and that you meet the legal deadlines and requirements for reporting births, movements, deaths and maintaining farm records. Failure to do so may lead to potential prosecution under cattle identification legislation and may also affect your single farm payment. Cattle that are sent for slaughter which do not meet cattle identification requirements may be disposed of without compensation. If you are in any doubt about these rules, please contact BCMS on 0845 050 1234 If you have any queries on the content of this letter, or have any other questions on OTM cattle for human consumption, please call my colleague Andrew Taylor on 0131 244 6642. Alternatively, you can e-mail Andrew at andrew.taylor@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. Yours sincerely Martin Morgan Beef Exports, BSE & Animal Waste Branch http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/pdf/scot141005.pdf TSS
|
