SLAUGHTERING OF LAGOMORPHS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION REGULATIONS

SLAUGHTERING OF LAGOMORPHS

FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 449.59

SLAUGHTERING OF LAGOMORPHS

FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION REGULATIONS

3rd May, 2011

LEGAL NOTICE 165 of 2011.

(1) The title of these regulations is the Slaughtering of

Lagomorphs for Human Consumption Regulations.

(2) The scope of these regulations is to implement national

measures with respect to the slaughtering of lagomorphs for human

consumption.

(3) These regulations are being published also in accordance

w i t h A r t i c l e 1 ( 4 ) o f R e g u l a t i o n 8 5 3 / 2 0 0 4 o f t h e E u r o p e an

Parliament and the Council of 29 April 2004.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires

"carcass" means the body of a lagomorph after slaughter and

dressing;

"Department" means the Department responsible for veterinary

services;

"dressing" means the removal of the skin and viscera but with the

possible retention of the tongue, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys and

testicles;

"final consumer" means the ultimate consumer of a foodstuff

who will not use the food as part of any food business operation or

activity;

"fresh meat" means meat that has not undergone any preserving

process other than chilling, freezing or quick-freezing, including

meat that is vacuum-wrapped or wrapped in a controlled

atmosphere, and "fresh lagomorph meat" shall be construed

accordingly;

"h o l d i n g " m ea n s an y s i t e w h e r e b r e ed i n g a n d r e a r i n g o f

lagomorphs for human consumption takes place;

"lagomorph" means rabbits, hares and rodents;

"local retail establishments" means an establishment that sells

lagomorph meat and meat preparations directly to the final

consumers, which establishment shall be clearly marked as such;

"premises" means any slaughtering plant or cutting unit;

"private domestic consumption" means the consumption of

lagomorph meat by the producer or his immediate family;

"producer" means any individual breeding or rearing lagomorphs

for the purpose of slaughtering for human consumption;

"Regulation 852" means Regulation (EC) 852/2004 of the

European Parliament and the Council of 29 April 2004 on the

SLAUGHTERING OF LAGOMORPHS

FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

hygiene of foodstuffs and subsequent amendments;

"Regulation 853" means Regulation (EC) 853/2004 of the

European Parliament and the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down

specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin and subsequent

amendments;

"small-scale producers" means producers whose holding rears 50

breeding does or less.

Any holding breeding or rearing lagomorphs for human

consumption shall be registered under the Veterinary Services Act,

and shall comply at all times with provisions as issued by the

Department from time to time.

No person shall slaughter any lagomorph with the intention

for supply for human consumption unless such slaughtering is

carried out in a premises approved under the Veterinary Services

Act and in compliance with the provisions of Regulation 853.

(1) The provisions of regulations 3 and 4 shall not apply in

r e l a t i o n t o sm a l l - s ca l e p r od u c e r s r e a r i n g an d s l au g h t e r i n g

lagomorphs for direct supply to the final consumer or to local retail

establishments directly supplying such meat to the final consumer

as fresh meat.

(2) Such producers shall be approved under the Food Safety

Act and shall comply at all times with the provisions of Regulation

852 and with guidelines issued by the Food Safety Commission as

published in the Gazette from time to time.

Premises whose operations are carried out with a view to

the supply of lagomorphs to other establishments shall be approved

u n d e r t h e Ve t e r i n a r y S er v i ce s A c t a n d i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h

Regulation 853.

(1) Any lagomorph carcass or fresh lagomorph meat

exposed for sale, or stored, in any retail establishment shall bear

information concerning the traceability of such meat.

(2) All individual carcasses of lagomorphs slaughtered in

establishments approved in line with regulation 4 shall bear an

identification mark as described in Regulation 853.

These regulations shall not apply in relation to the

breeding, rearing or slaughter of lagomorphs for private domestic

use or the domestic preparation, handling or storage of lagomorph

meat for personal private domestic consumption.

Any person who contravenes these regulations shall be

guilty of an offence against the Food Safety Act and the Veterinary

Services Act.