Day 112 - 31 Mar 95 - Page 30


     
     1
     2   MR. RAMPTON:  Can you -- perhaps you cannot, I do not know --
     3        explain to me why it is if the carcass is so thoroughly
     4        washed at that point as to be apt to disguise signs of
     5        contamination or unfitness or whatever, why on earth it is
     6        necessary to have a separate point after inspection to wash
     7        it again?
     8        A.  It is not necessary at all.  It is being disputed and,
     9        I can assure you, that most people, most official
    10        veterinary surgeons, and also there is undisputable
    11        research evidence on the fact that washing the carcass is
    12        totally unnecessary and can at certain situations, where
    13        there is contamination left on the carcass after the
    14        inspection, can be detrimental to the quality of the
    15        carcass.
    16
    17        There are several abattoirs in the world (and I have seen
    18        them) where they do not wash the outside of the carcass,
    19        and they usually end up with a better quality carcass and
    20        less loss in evaporation of the water in the chillers.
    21        I am sure it is something that will in the future, that
    22        that carcass wash will disappear as well.
    23
    24   Q.   Just two other things, Ms. Hovi, at the moment.  First of
    25        all, you say in your statement, though you are not
    26        asserting this as a breach of the regulations, paragraph 8
    27        on the third page, top of the third page:
    28
    29        "I would like to further express my surprise at the total
    30        lack of communication on behalf McKey Food Services Limited
    31        with the Official Veterinary Surgeon at the plant.  As
    32        I had full access to all previous correspondence to the
    33        Official Veterinary Surgeon's Office and could find no
    34        copies of the McKey Food Services' Raw Material
    35        Specifications or other form of correspondence."
    36
    37        May I ask you why that causes you surprise, Ms. Hovi?
    38        A.  Well, I am sure that it arises from the way I see the
    39        role of the OVS at a plant as an advisory and consultant
    40        role, where you try to help the plant management to adhere
    41        to the rules that are necessary to protect the public
    42        health and, at the same time, to serve their customers
    43        right.
    44
    45        I have visited, and I have a lot of colleagues who work as
    46        OVSs in export abattoirs in this country, and I have
    47        visited a lot of abattoirs, I have worked at abattoirs
    48        before, and I have always been made party of any customer
    49        requirements that there are in other plants where I have
    50        worked.  That is the cause for my surprise. 
    51 
    52   Q.   But you would not criticise Jarretts for saying to 
    53        themselves:  "Well, thank you very much; we do not need
    54        your help in complying with McKey's specifications", would
    55        you?
    56        A.  No.
    57
    58   Q.   No.  So what is it doing in this statement?  Why is it
    59        here?  What is the point of it?
    60        A.  Well, I was not given any advice to remove it.  I am

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