Day 104 - 15 Mar 95 - Page 12
1 A. The test known as the Total Viable Count which means an
2 overall check on the -----
3
4 Q. That is on the meat. Were they doing any testing for the
5 hygiene of the premises?
6 A. Yes, they would swab various equipment surfaces and
7 analyse those swabs.
8
9 Q. As far as you can tell from looking at the results that you
10 saw, was the microbiological state of Jarrett fair, good,
11 unsatisfactory -- give us an idea.
12 A. I would put it in the "good" category, looking at the
13 Total Viable Counts that appear on the reports.
14
15 Q. We are going to look at some, Mr. Bennett, from April 1994
16 or thereabouts fairly shortly. About when did you finalise
17 your HACCP system for Jarrett?
18 A. In the spring and summer, between March 1994 and April
19 -- I am sorry, May 1994 I would have completed the
20 discussions, completed the documentation and presented the
21 final report to Jarretts.
22
23 Q. I do not know the answer to this question, but do you think
24 you might have visited Jarretts during that last period of
25 preparation, March/April/May?
26 A. I certainly visited in March.
27
28 Q. You did. Have you held any training courses for Jarretts'
29 staff?
30 A. Yes, I have. The management team which, obviously,
31 includes the senior managers down to supervisory level,
32 attended a basic hygiene course which involved lectures and
33 an examination and the presentation of certificates in
34 basic hygiene.
35
36 Q. Whose initiative was that -- yours or theirs?
37 A. Theirs.
38
39 Q. Before I move on, have you read the statement of Miss Hovi?
40 A. Yes, I have.
41
42 Q. Before I move on to her specific allegations, which I want
43 you to deal with in detail, can I ask you, first of all,
44 what are the requirements of an EC licence? I am talking
45 now about legal requirements, I am not talking about best
46 practice.
47 A. The legal requirements are that in order to obtain an
48 EC licence, the plant must meet the structural requirements
49 of the relevant directive, meet the operating standards of
50 hygiene and be supervised by the requisite number of
51 officials.
52
53 Q. Who grants the EC licence in this country?
54 A. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
55
56 Q. Does the Ministry itself visit premises before it grants a
57 licence?
58 A. It does.
59
60 Q. Do they have separate people, the MAFF, to come and inspect
