Day 111 - 30 Mar 95 - Page 54
1 then?
2 A. Since there has been no testing of the infection levels
3 in the cattle, we could not even infer anything from that.
4 No studies have been made of how many cattle are infected
5 with this bacteria, so we could not make any assumptions at
6 all. But the working assumption, of course, for us always
7 is that since most carcasses would be to a certain extent
8 contaminated by environmental or faecal contamination,
9 there is always a risk always exists. That is why we are
10 there; that is why we have meat inspectors there to deal
11 with any visible faecal contamination. That is why we have
12 all the regulations about not washing carcasses before the
13 inspection. That is why we have regulations about chilling
14 the carcasses and so on. They are just precautions,
15 because we always work from the assumption that there is a
16 risk, the risk exists.
17
18 MS. STEEL: This has partly been dealt with, but I am not sure
19 that it has been dealt with entirely: Do you think that
20 the issuing of an EC licence can be used in the way that
21 McKey's have as a sign of quality assurance?
22 A. I mean, that is a matter of opinion.
23
24 MR. JUSTICE BELL: The way you have put the question puts the
25 witness in a very difficult situation, because she has not
26 heard all the evidence about that. Why not simply ask her
27 to what extent at all the holding of an EC licence is a
28 guarantee of a certain level of quality so far as hygiene
29 is concerned, because that is what we are on at the
30 moment? (To the witness): What is the answer to that?
31 A. Well, I would want to believe that that is so since the
32 difference between the EC licensed abattoirs which are the
33 oval stamp abattoirs and the abattoirs which at the moment
34 are derogations and square health marks, they do not have,
35 they are not obliged to have veterinary supervision
36 throughout the function of the plant, whereas EC abattoirs
37 have veterinary supervision.
38
39 Q. They are the ones with the oval mark?
40 A. With the oval -- yes. I would like to think that my
41 profession provides a certain assurance.
42
43 MR. MORRIS: But, in reality, does that happen? You said you
44 "would like to think", but what is reality?
45 A. Well, it is very difficult for me to see -- it would
46 mean that I would have to spend more time at plants that
47 are supervised by other people. I would not want to
48 comment anything on my colleagues in that sense.
49
50 MS. STEEL: Can you just explain how the EC licensing is done
51 and monitored?
52 A. The Ministry of Agriculture here in this country grants
53 the licences to plants for that. The EC inspectors who
54 come and visit this country at intervals, they visit the
55 plants as well, but these visits are very rare. They do
56 not have very much resources. The last time Jarretts, for
57 example was visited by an EC inspector, I understand, was
58 1990. I am not quite sure of this. This was hearsay
59 again, this was told to me.
60
