Day 105 - 16 Mar 95 - Page 19


     
     1        splitting saw and into the inspection, yes?
     2        A.  Yes.
     3
     4   Q.   It is illegal, is it not, to wash the carcass before
     5        inspection?
     6        A.  No.
     7
     8   Q.   Is it not against the statutory regulations?
     9        A.  No, it is not.
    10
    11   Q.   Do you know the guidelines for European Commission
    12        Inspections for Fresh Meat Establishments?
    13        A.  Yes, I do.
    14
    15   Q.   Does it say: "The showering or rinsing of carcasses from
    16        the time of stunning until the completion of postmortem
    17        inspection is not considered to meet the Directive's
    18        requirements; that dressing evisceration should be carried
    19        out in a way which avoids contamination of fresh meat"?
    20        A.  It does say that and it is not a statutory document,
    21        and it is not one that I personally agree with, nor do many
    22        other authorities.  I have correspondence with the Ministry
    23        of Agriculture which confirms that it is not a statutory
    24        requirement.
    25
    26   Q.   OK, it is not a statutory requirement, but it is an EC
    27        Directive requirement?
    28        A.  No, it is not a Directive requirement.  The Directive
    29        is statute.  That is an advisory document for EC inspectors
    30        who visit all EC countries from time to time to monitor
    31        compliance and, in the words of the Ministry of
    32        Agriculture, it is what the Brussels inspectors like to
    33        see, but they have no statutory authority either.
    34
    35   Q.   If we look at the top of the page, the "detained room" and
    36        the "condemned room"?
    37        A.  Yes.
    38
    39   Q.   Was not chilled until June 1994; is that correct?
    40        A.  That is correct.
    41
    42   Q.   Was that not against the statutory requirements or other
    43        directive of the relevant authorities?
    44        A.  It was against the statutory requirement.
    45
    46   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  When was the statutory requirement in effect?
    47        A.  I could not give you a precise answer, but 1987 is the
    48        date that I am sure that the requirement to chill the
    49        detention room was introduced.
    50 
    51   MR. MORRIS:  Is that a UK statutory requirement or an EC? 
    52        A.  It is both now. 
    53
    54   Q.   EC licensing requirement?
    55        A.  It has been an EC licensing requirement certainly since
    56        1987 and a UK requirement since 1992.
    57
    58   Q.   But they were never prosecuted for that?
    59        A.  No, indeed.
    60

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