Day 097 - 06 Mar 95 - Page 48
1 A. Yes.
2
3 Q. Will they consult the OVS or not?
4 A. Oh, yes, they work sort of directly under his
5 instruction.
6
7 Q. They do, do they? If they were concerned about an animal
8 or a piece of meat, would they call him in if they needed
9 his help?
10 A. I am sure they would if they needed his help, yes.
11
12 Q. Do you have a detained room at your plant?
13 A. Yes, we do.
14
15 Q. Who inspects the meat in the detained room?
16 A. The senior meat inspector and/or vet if needed,
17 I believe.
18
19 Q. Are you EC licensed?
20 A. We are, yes.
21
22 Q. Do you receive any visits from MAFF itself, MAFF
23 inspectors?
24 A. Yes, we have an official visit every two months.
25
26 Q. Every two months?
27 A. Yes.
28
29 Q. By what sort of people?
30 A. Well, the District Meat Hygiene Officer, I believe
31 their title is, and then every six weeks by the Regional
32 Meat Hygiene Officer.
33
34 Q. Is it they that determine whether or not you are fit to be
35 licensed?
36 A. Yes.
37
38 Q. Does the OVS have any responsibilities for the welfare of
39 your animals?
40 A. Yes, I mean, it is his job to oversee that overall what
41 we are doing on our site is done properly.
42
43 Q. What would he do if he thought it was not being done
44 properly?
45 A. It is quite within his power, I believe, to stop our
46 process until things have been improved or certain action
47 is taken.
48
49 Q. In the time you have been there has that ever happened?
50 A. Not to my knowledge, no.
51
52 Q. Have you yourself ever had cause to discipline, perhaps
53 even sack, any of your employees for animal welfare
54 offences?
55 A. No.
56
57 Q. Do you know of any case within the company in which that
58 has happened?
59 A. I do not, no.
60
