PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT DRAFT UGANDA 
STANDARD  
  DUS DEAS 84-2 
First Edition  
2021 -mm-dd 
 
 Reference number  
DUS DEAS 84-2: 2021 
© UNBS 2021  
   
Meat grades and meat cuts ― Specification — Part 2: Ovine  
 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS DEAS 84 -2: 2021  
ii                © UNBS  2021  - All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsi ble for its correct application  
© UNBS 2021  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without prio r written 
permission from UNBS.  
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
The Executive Director  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala  
Uganda  
Tel: +256 41 7 333 2 50/1/2 
Fax: +256 41 4 286 123  
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  
 
 
  PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS DEAS 84 -2: 2021  
© UNBS  2021  - All rights reserved                 iii National foreword  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and 
Cooperatives established under Cap 327, of the Laws of Uganda, a s amen ded. UNBS is mandated to co -
ordinate the elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisatio n for Standardisation (ISO),  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Poi nt on TBT Agreement of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).  
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a given field or area and consists of represen tatives of 
consumers, traders, academicians, manufacturers, government and other stakeholders.  
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the co mments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
This Draft Uganda Standard, DUS DEAS 84 -2: 2021 , Meat grades and meat cuts ― Specification — Part 2: 
Ovine , is identical with  and has been reproduced from an East African  Standard, EAS 84-2: 2021 , Meat 
grades and meat cuts ― Specification — Part 2: Ovine , and adopted  as a Uganda Standard . 
The committee responsible for this document is Technical Committee UNBS/ TC 213, Live animal s, meat and 
meat products . 
This standard cancels  and replaces US 2122:  2020, Ovine (lamb) meat cuts and carcasses — Specification , 
which has been withdrawn.  
Wherever the words, “ East African  Standard " appear, they should be replaced by "Uganda Standard ". 
US 84 consists of the following parts, under the general title Meat grades and meat cuts ― Specification :  
  Part 1: Beef grades and cuts  
  Part 2 : Ovine  
  Part 3 : Pork  
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
 DEAS 84 -2:2021  
ICS xxxxx x 
 
© EAC 2021                                                                                                                            First Edition 2021 
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD 
Meat grades and meat cuts ― Specification — Part 2: Ovine 
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTPUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDEAS 84-2:2021 
ii © EAC 2021 – All rights reserved  
 Copyright notice 
This EAC document is copyright-protected by EAC. While the reproduction of this document by 
participants in the EAC standards development process is permitted without prior permission from EAC, 
neither this document nor any extract from it may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form for 
any other purpose without prior written permission from EAC. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document for the purpose of selling it should be addressed 
as shown below or to EAC’s member body in the country of the requester:  
© East African Community 2021 — All rights reserved 
East African Community 
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Tel: + 255 27 2162100 
Fax: + 255 27 2162190 
E-mail: eac@eachq.org 
       Web: www.eac-quality.net 
Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement. 
Violators may be prosecuted. 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDEAS 84- 2:2021  
© EAC 2021 – All rights reserved  iii 
 Foreword 
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing requirements 
governing quality of products and services in the East African Community. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standardization, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services are exchanged 
within the Community will be removed.  
The Community has established an East African Standards Committee (EASC) mandated to develop and 
issue East African Standards (EAS).  The Committee is composed of representatives of the National 
Standards Bodies in Partner States, together with the representatives from the public and private sector 
organizations in the community .  
East African Standards are developed through Technical Committees that are representative of key 
stakeholders including government, academia, consumer groups, private sector and other interested parties. 
Draft East African Standards are circulated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the 
Partner States. The comments received are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in 
accordance with the Principles and procedures for development of East African Standards.  
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the East 
African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of the standards 
they are implementing.  
The committee responsible for this document is Technical Committee EASC/TC 004 , Meat and meat 
products . 
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be subject of patent 
rights. EAC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTPUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  DEAS 84 -2:2021  
 
© EAC 2021 – All rights reserved  1 
 Meat grades and meat cuts ― Specification — Part 2: Ovine 
1 Scope 
This Draft East African Standard specifies methods of grading and grades of lamb and mutton, quality 
requirements, safety requirement and methods of sampling and test for lamb and mutton carcasses and cuts 
meant for human consumption. 
2 Normative references 
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes 
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. 
EAS 39, Hygiene in the food and drink manufacturing industry - Code of practice.  
ISO 22000, Food safety management systems - Requirements for any organization in the food chain.   
EAS 151, Hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP).  
CAC/MRL 2, Maximum Residue Limits for Veterinary Drugs in Food  
EAS 38, Labelling of pre-packaged foods  
ISO 4832, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs -- Horizontal method for the enumeration of 
coliforms — Colony-count technique.  
ISO 16649- 2, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs - — Horizontal method for the enumeration of 
beta-glucuronidase-positive Escherichia coli — Part 2: Colony-count technique at 44 degrees C using 5-
bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl beta-D-glucuronide.  
ISO 6888-1, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the enumeration of 
coagulase-positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and other species) — Part 1: Technique using 
Baird-Parker agar medium.  
ISO 6579, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the detection of Salmonella 
spp. 
ISO 7937, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the enumeration of 
Clostridium perfringens — Colony-count technique.  
ISO 11290 – 1, Microbiology of the food chain - Horizontal method for the detection and enumeration of 
Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. -- Part 1: Detection method  
CAC/RCP 58-2005, Codex code of hygienic practice for meat.  
EAS 12, Specification for potable water   
ISO 17604, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs- carcass sampling  
ISO/TS 17728, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs- sampling techniques for microbiological 
analysis of foods and feed s. PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDEAS 84-2:2021  
2 © EAC 2021 – All rights reserved  
 ISO 16654, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs- Horizontal method for the detection of Escherichia 
coli 0157:H7  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply. 
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses: 
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp  
3.1 Lamb 
refers to the carcass of young ovine animals (sheep) of both sexes whose age is 12 months and under.  
3.2 Yearling Lamb 
Carcass from young sheep normally ranging from 12 months to 20 months old.  
 
3.4 Mature Mutton 
carcass from both males (castracted or uncastrated) and females of ovine species (sheep) that are over 20 
months of age at the slaughter time. 
 
3.5 carcass  
body of any slaughtered animal after bleeding and dressing. 
 
3.6 dressed  
The removal of head, hide or skin, viscera, genital, gums, urinary bladder and feet up to the carpal and tarsal 
joints and udder of lactating animals that have calved or are in advanced pregnancy and where 
necessary splitting of the carcass lengthwise. 
 
3.7 Splitting   
dividing the carcass lengthwise into two sides. 
 
3.8 Ageing (Conditioning or Maturation)  
is the holding of carcasses or primal joints at refrigerated temperatures (0 to 4 °C) to improve eating quality 
(particularly tenderness and flavour) 
 
3.9 Conformation  
is the overall thickness of muscle and fat in relation to the size of an animal’s skeleton  
 
3.10 Eating quality  
efers to the organoleptic factors influencing consumer acceptance and enjoyment of the product. ” 
 
3.11 Carcass weight 
is the weight (kg) of the dressed body of an animal at the end of the slaughter line. 
 
3.11.1 Hot dressed weight (HDW)  
is the weight (kg) of the dressed body of an animal (carcass) at the end of the slaughter line within one hour of 
slaughter.   
 
3.11.2 Cold dressed carcass weight (CDW)  
weight of the carcass following chilling 
 
3.11 Primal cuts 
are large sections of a carcass from which prime cuts and retail cuts are made  
 
3.12 Grading  
is the categorization of a carcass according to quality standards. 
 
3.13 Retail cuts  PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDEAS 84-2:2021  
© EAC 2021 – All rights reserved  3 
 is portions of meat prepared for sale to the consumer in the raw state.  
 
3.14 Prime cuts  
cuts that are considered to be of high quality 
4 Grading specification of lamb and mutton 
4.1 Grading  — Grading of lamb and mutton shall be done in accordance with the grading regulations 
approved by the relevant authority as shown below. 
 
4.2 Lamb Grades — Eligible slaughter stock are lambs of all breeds. 
 
4.2.1 Prime lamb  — Cold dressed weight: 12 kg to 17.99 kg.  Fat cover: Smooth, firm, of moderate depth 
and excellent quality and evenly distributed. 
    
Age: 6 months 
Dentition:  Temporary incisors 
    
4.2.3 Choice lamb  
Cold dressed weight: 18 kg to 21 kg.  Fat cover: 12 mm depth and evenly distributed.Measure 3 cm from the 
spinal process of the 10th rib towards flank.   
Age: 6 months.   
Dentition: Temporary incisors. 
 
4.2.3 Standard lamb  — Cold dressed weight: 12 kg to 21 kg.  Fat cover: Uneven and irregular distribution. 
 
Dentition: Temporary incisors. 
  
4.3 Lamb grade descriptions (includes Yearling lamb)   
 
4.3.1 Prime Lamb  — Carcasses shall be of good conformation.  
 
The carcass shall be compact and blocky, short, with thick plump legs, broad backs, thick well fleshed loins, 
ribs and chucks, well-proportioned breasts, and full thick flanks.  All fats are firm and of excellent quality.  The 
outer covering of fat being smooth of moderate depth and evenly distributed over the back and sides.  The fat 
covering is interspersed with trips of pink flesh.  Interior fats are plentiful but not excessive or wasty.  The lean 
flesh is firm in all parts, fine grained and cut surfaces feel smooth and velvety to touch.  
  
4.3.2 Choice Lamb  — the carcass shall be very well proportioned and have a rounded appearance and 
shall be dry and firm to the touch.  It shall be well fleshed with well-developed short hind legs, broad loins and 
shoulders, well covered ribs and thick flank and a short, fairly thick neck. 
4.3.3 Standard Lamb — the carcass shall be medium well-proportioned and shall be dry, reasonably firm 
to the touch.  The fat can be off-colour and irregular without excessive fat in the tail region.  Kidneys can be 
exposed.  The carcass shall be free from blemishes which may depreciate its value. 
4.4 Mutton grades and descriptions 
4.4.1 Mutton A  — Eligible slaughter stock: Wethers and unlambed ewes of all breeds. 
The carcass shall be well proportioned and well fleshed and shall have an even fat cover which s hall not be 
excessively yellow. The carcass shall be firm and free from all but very superficial blemishes. 
This grade may include lamb carcasses which have not qualified for ‘Lamb’ grade.  
 
CDW Limits:  Maximum 28 kg. PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDEAS 84-2:2021  
4 © EAC 2021 – All rights reserved  
 Fat Cover:     Maximum 14 mm: measured for ‘Lamb’ grade.  
Dentition:      Maximum four permanent incisors. 
 
4.4.2 Mutton B    — Eligible slaughter stock: Wethers and ewes of all breeds. 
The carcass shall be fairly well proportioned and fairly well fleshed and have a fairly even covering of 
fat.  It shall be free form extensive and penetrating blemishes affecting the prime joints. 
 
This grade may include unfinished lambs. 
    
CDW Limits:   No limit. 
Fat cover:   Maximum 17 mm: Measured as for ‘Lamb” grade.  
Detention:  Maximum six permanent incisor s. 
 
4.4.3 Mutton C    — Eligible slaughter sock:  Wethers and ewes of all breeds. 
The carcass shall be of plain appearance and shall have average fleshed and some covering of fat, 
but not excessive, and shall be free from very extensive and penetrating blemishes. 
 
 CDW Limits:   No limit. 
 Fat Cover: No limit. 
 Dentition: No limit. 
 
4.4.4 Mutton D   — Eligible slaughter stock: Wethers, ewes and rams of all breeds.  
 
The carcass is of lower quality compared to the other grades. 
 
CDW Limits: No limit. 
Fat cover: No limit. 
Dentition: No limit. 
5 Preparation of mutton and lamb carcasses and cuts 
Lamb and mutton carcasses shall be properly dressed, washed, butchered, trimmed, weighed, properly 
packaged and labelled and shall be free from bruises or blemishes of any kind. 
 
5.1 Temperature treatment  - Mutton and lamb carcasses and cuts shall be subjected to the following 
temperature treatment. 
5.1.1 Chilling - Fresh lamb and mutton carcass sides or cuts shall be brought to a temperature of between 
1 ºC and 3 ºC within 24 hours.  Carcases and cuts meant for chilling shall be further chilled to temperatures of 
-2 ºC to 4 ºC and should be consumed within a period of 4 weeks.  
5.1.2 Freezing and Storage - The lamb and mutton carcasses sides or cuts shall be pre-chilled before 
freezing and the freezing shall be at minus (-) 18 ºC and (-) 12 ºC at the highest, within three days. The lamb 
and mutton carcasses and cuts shall be stored at minus (-)12 oC at the highest The frozen product shall be 
consumed within 12 months 
5.2 The carcass/cuts shall be of the following types in relation to temperature treatment: 
5.2.1 Fresh Carcass  —the deepest part of the carcass near the bone shall be cooled to the atmospheric 
temperature when delivered and shall show no evidence of deterioration. 
5.2.2 Fresh-chilled Carcass  — the carcass shall be chilled so that the temperature at the deepest portion 
of the flesh near the bone shall be between 1 C and 3 C and shall show no evidence of deterioration. 
5.2.3 Fresh-Frozen Carcass  —the carcass shall be frozen solid at –18 C when delivered and they shall 
show no evidence of deterioration. 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDEAS 84-2:2021  
© EAC 2021 – All rights reserved  5 
 5.2.4 Lamb and Mutton Cuts, Fresh  — shall be prepared from fresh carcass (7.2.1) and Cooled to the 
atmospheric temperature.  The cuts shall be well trimmed and clean with the surplus fat remove. 
5.2.5 Lamb and Mutton Cuts, fresh, chilled —these shall be obtained from fresh carcasses (7.2.1) and 
chilled as under Clause 7.2.2  or from fresh-chilled carcasses (7.2.2). 
 
5.2.6 Lamb and mutton Cuts, Fresh, Frozen —these shall be obtained from the fresh carcasses (7.2.1) 
and frozen solid ( see 7.2.3 ). The cuts shall show no evidence of refreezing or deterioration. 
5.3 General requirements 
5.3.1 Animals from which lamb and mutton is derived shall be slaughtered in a hygienically managed 
slaughter-house in accordance with CAC/RCP 58 . The slaughter shall be supervised by a competent 
authority.  The ovine animals and carcasses thereof shall be subjected to ante mortem and post mortem 
veterinary inspection as prescribed in CAC/RCP 58 and lamb and mutton carcasses and cuts thereof shall be 
certified as being sound and free from contagious and infectious diseases and fit for human consumption.   
 
5.3.2 The certified carcasses shall bear an approval marks of such inspection, the symbol or number or 
name of the establishment or slaughter house where they were prepared and the legend “PASSED” denoting 
wholesomeness and denoting the grade or quality . The marking fluid used shall be of food grade. 
 
5.3.3 The mutton and lamb shall be prepared pin a plant which is regularly operated under supervision of 
the relevant competent authority. The mutton and lamb shall be prepared, handled fresh or chilled or frozen 
and then delivered fresh or chilled or frozen, under hygienic conditions 
6 Quality characteristics of lamb/mutton 
6.1 Quality - A characteristic of the flesh and the fat included therein.  It pertains primarily to the thickness, 
firmness and strength in muscle fibre and connective tissue.  It also involves the quality, consistency 
and character of juice and extractives which are contained in the muscle fibre and the fat surrounding 
the connective tissue.  A break joint is a sure and simple way of identifying lamb. 
 
6.2 High quality lamb and mutton have a smooth covering of clear, white brittle fat over most of the 
exterior. 
 
6.2.1 Lamb – the lean is pinkish-red in colour, texture is fine grained and velvety while the bones are porous 
and reddish in colour. In young lamb, the forefeet when broken off expose light-well defined ridges 
known as the break joint.   
 
6.2.2 Yearling Lamb - the lean is dark pink to light red, the bones and break joint are hard and white in 
appearance 
 
6.2.3 Mutton – the lean is deeper red in colour, the bones are hard and white in appearance and break 
joints are hard to break  
 
64.3 Low quality meats from all ovine animals have darker flesh, and the grain is coarse. The general 
appearance is soft, watery and fibrous. 
7 Hygiene 
7.1 Lamb and mutton shall be produced, handled and stored in accordance with CAC/RCP 58 and EAS 39  
7.2 Lamb and mutton carcass and cuts shall comply with the microbiological requirements given in Table 1 
and Table 2. PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDEAS 84-2:2021  
6 © EAC 2021 – All rights reserved  
 Table 1 — Microbiological limits for lamb, mutton carcasses and cuts 
 
S/No. Micro -organism  Limit Test method  
i.  Aerobic colony count , cfu/g , max.  106 ISO 4833  
ii.  Escherichia. Coli, cfu/g , max.  102 ISO 16649 -2 
iii.   Staphylococcus aureus , cfu/g , max.  103 ISO 6888 -1 
iv.  Clostridium perfringenes (For vacuum 
packed products) per 25  g Absent  ISO 7937  
v.  Salmonella ssp . per 25  g Absent  ISO 6579  
vi.  Listeria monocytogenes per 25  g Absent  ISO 11290 -1 
 
 
7.3 Aged lamb, mutton meat cuts shall comply with the microbiological requirements given in Table 2. 
 
Table 2 — Microbiological limits for Aged lamb, mutton carcasses and cuts 
 
S/No. Micro -organism  Max. limits  Test method  
i.  Escherichia coli 0157:H7 per g  Absent  ISO 16654  
ii.  Salmonella  sp., per 25g  Absent  ISO 6579  
iii.  Listeria monocytogenes, per 25 g  Absent  ISO 11290 -1 
 
8 Ageing 
8.1 Chilled fresh lamb may be aged for a period of at least 14 days at a temperature of between 0 C and 4 
C. 
8.2 Dry aged primal and bone in fabricated cuts shall be the aged at 0 C to 4 C for a minimum period of at 
least 14 days after slaughter. 
8.3 Vacuum packed primal and fabricated cuts shall be aged at 0 C to 4 C for at leas t 14 days ensuring 
that the vacuum is intact the whole time. 
9 Contaminants 
9.1 Veterinary drug residue 
Product shall have a maximum Residual limit for veterinary drugs in accordance with CAC/MRL- 2. 
 
9.2 Pesticide residues 
Product shall have a maximum pesticide residues limit as in accordance with Codex Alimentarious 
standards.  
10 Heavy metals 
10.1 Lamb, mutton meat cuts shall not contain heavy metal contaminants in excess of the limits given in Table 
3 when tested by methods mentioned. 
 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDEAS 84-2:2021  
© EAC 2021 – All rights reserved  7 
 Table 3 — Heavy metal contaminants limits for lamb, mutton meat cuts 
  
S/No.  Contaminants limits  Maximum limits  
ppm  Test method  
i Arsenic (As)  0.1 ISO 17294 -2 
ii Lead (Pb)  0.1 ISO 6633  
iii Cadmium (Cd)  0.05 ISO 5961  
iv Mercury (Hg)  0.03 ISO 6637  
11 Packag ing 
11.1 Packing and transport  
11.1.1  Fresh, chilled and frozen products shall be wrapped in suitable food grade material permitted by 
health authorities for use in packaging foods. The products if wrapped may be packed in wax cartons or other 
approved containers. 
11.1.2 Fresh and chilled products shall be handled and transported as per meat transport regulations in the 
respective Partner States. 
11.1.3  Vacuum-packed cuts shall be delivered intact. 
11.1.4  All the meat shall be handled and delivered in clean and hygienic conditions.  The frozen material 
shall be moved to refrigerated transport and the packages shall be handled with due care of preserving the 
quality and safety of the products.  The packages shall not be exposed to direct sun or rain. 
12 Labelling 
12.1 Labelling of lamb and mutton carcasses and cuts packages shall be done in accordance with the 
requirements stipulated in EAS 38 . In addition, it shall include the following: 
 
a) name of the product (lamb and mutton carcasses as appropriate);  
b) for aged products declare “aged” ; 
c) name, location and address of manufacturer; 
d) net weight, in g or kg; 
e) date of production/packaging; 
f) expiry date; 
g) batch number; 
h) storage conditions; 
i) country of origin; and  
j) approval veterinary mark for cuts. PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDEAS 84-2:2021  
8 © EAC 2021 – All rights reserved  
 12.2  The labeling, promotion and presentation of a material or article shall not mislead the consumers.   
13 Sampling 
Samples shall be taken in accordance with the provisions of ISO/TS 17728. 
 
 
 
 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTCD/187 /004/2021    
 
© EAC 2021 – All rights reserved