Abattoirs Act 1988 (Abattoirs) (Amendment) Regulations, 1997
Statutory Instruments
Source: Statutory Instruments

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paragraphs: ( a ) These Regulations may be cited as the Abattoirs Act, 1988 (Abattoirs) (Amendment) Regulations, 1997.
( b ) The Abattoirs Act, 1988 (Abattoirs) Regulations, 1989 and these Regulations may cited together as the Abattoirs Act, 1988 (Abattoirs) Regulations, 1989 and 1997.
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paragraphs: These Regulations shall come into operation on the 27th day of October, 1997.
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paragraphs: In these Regulations the "Principal Regulations" means the Abattoirs Act, 1988 (Abattoirs) Regulations, 1989 ( S.I. No. 152 of 1989 ).
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paragraphs: The provisions of these Regulations and the Principal Regulations other than: Articles 59(1)(2)(3), 60(1)(3), 66(3), 67, 69, 70, 72(1), 73, 77(1)(3)(5)(a)(b), 78 and 79(3) shall apply to the slaughter of ostriches and other ratite birds.
Part II
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paragraphs: The Principal Regulations are hereby amended by
( a ) the insertion in Regulation 3(1) of the following paragraph:
"ratite bird means the running birds, ostriches emus and rheas.
( b ) the insertion of new Parts IV and V as follows:
Part IV
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ABATTOIRS SLAUGHTERING OSTRICHES AND OTHER RATITE BIRDS AND THE FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT THEREIN.
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paragraphs: The abattoir shall have suitable safe unloading facilities and where necessary shall have suitable unloading ramps or banks that are level or with the minimum possible incline and with no step or steps, for the safe unloading of ostriches or other ratite birds from transport vehicles.
All unloading facilities shall have non slip surfaces and shall be designed to avoid the risk of ostriches or other ratite birds slipping, falling, or of being trapped, bruised or injured, and to avoid ostriches or other ratite birds escaping.
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paragraphs: All yards, lairage pens, lairages, passageways, races and areas used for ostriches or other ratite birds must: -
( a ) have non slip flat surfaces with no steps, and
( b ) be free of obstructions or projections, and
( c ) be designed to avoid ostriches or other ratite birds slipping, falling, or of being bruised or injured, or of being trapped, by the legs, neck, wings or other parts of the body, and to enable ostriches or other ratite birds to be penned and moved without avoidable excitement, distress, difficulty, pain or suffering, and
( d ) have walls or suitable rails and gates, at least 1.8 metres high in the case of ostriches, and at least 1.5 metres high in the case of other ratite birds, for the secure confinement of ostriches or other ratite birds and must be designed and constructed in a manner that will prevent their escape.
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paragraphs: (1) A suitable covered lairage pen or pens of adequate size shall be provided, for at least one day's kill of ostriches and other ratite birds and shall be designed with comers angled greater as far as possible, but never less than 90 degrees. Ostrich and other ratite bird pens shall be protected from adverse weather conditions, and equipped with self filling drinking bowls, at an appropriate height, but within easy reach and easily accessible to ostriches and other ratite birds. Ratite birds shall be penned separately with their own species.
(2) Suitable feeding troughs installed in suitable locations at a suitable height, in a manner that ensures they are easily accessible to the animals and not liable to be soiled, must be provided where the veterinary inspector permits the overnight lairaging in lairage pens of individual consignments of animals on a case by case basis.
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paragraphs: Where ostriches or other ratite birds are to be held overnight in pasture pens, in accordance with Regulation 19(3) suitable secure pasture pens must be provided, at or near the abattoir of adequate size, surrounded by suitable fences or walls and gates at least 1.8 metres high in the case of ostriches, and at least 1.5 metres high in the case of emus and rheas, constructed in a manner that will ensure animals will not escape or will not be trapped or injured. Pasture pens must be equipped with shelters that will adequately protect the animals from adverse weather conditions; and must be equipped with suitably located self filling drinking troughs and suitably located feeding troughs that are easily accessible to the animals and that are not liable to be soiled.
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paragraphs: Ostrich and other ratite bird races or passageways of a suitable width shall be provided, from the ostrich or other ratite bird lairage pen or pens to the stunning pen or box, to enable ostriches or other ratite birds to be moved by walking, without avoidable difficulty, excitement or distress and without bruising or injury from the lairage pens to the stunning pen or box.
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paragraphs: The entrances to races, passageways, crushes, pens and stunning pens shall be funnel shaped, where necessary, to encourage and facilitate the easy entry of animals more readily.
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paragraphs: Suitable long guide poles (not made of wood) and with suitably shaped durable "V" shaped or "C" shaped heads made of a reasonably soft durable material, with no pointed or sharp surfaces or ends and constructed in a manner that will avoid causing bruising or injury to the ostriches and other ratite birds, must be provided, and may be used by handlers to guide the animals, and to gently push away or fend off obstreperous animals.
Crooks may be used to gently crook and lower or catch the neck and head of the animals for hooding or stunning only, in a manner that causes no pain bruising or injury.
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paragraphs: (1) A slaughter area, meaning a suitable distinctly separated area, within the slaughter and dressing area or room, or a slaughter room, of adequate size and height, and with suitable facilities for the stunning and bleeding of ostriches and other ratite birds, in accordance with these Regulations, must be provided and used for these purposes only.
(2) Ostriches and other ratite birds may be slaughtered in the same slaughter area or same slaughter room, as other animals, provided such slaughter area or room complies with Regulation 12 of the Principal Regulations and these Regulations.
(3) Where the slaughter and defeathering of ostriches and other ratite birds are carried out in the same room, a separate room of adequate size and height, and with suitable facilities, separated off from the dressing area, by doors, must be provided and used for such slaughter and de-feathering and such room must comply with the provisions of this Regulation and Regulations 9 and 10.
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paragraphs: The slaughter area or slaughter room (for stunning and bleeding) shall be equipped with the following equipment and facilities:-
( a ) a suitable stunning pen or box in a separate stunning area for ostriches and other ratite birds that will confine and restrain ostriches and other ratite birds for stunning in a humane and secure manner that will avoid their bruising and injury, and shall be designed to permit and facilitate
(i) the application of loose shackle chains to one or both legs immediately before stunning, in a manner that permits the animal to remain standing, or during or after stunning where effective quick humane and safe means of shackling are carried out, unless other humane means of shackling approved by the Department of Agriculture and Food are used, and
(ii) the effective immobilising of the animals head and neck, for stunning, and the correct positioning and application of the stunning instrument, and the accurate and efficient stunning of the animal, in a humane manner, and
(iii) the immediate hoisting and suspension for bleeding of the animal immediately after stunning, and if necessary the immediate opening of the stunning pen sides, front or doors, to facilitate rapid hoisting and suspension for bleeding after stunning.
( b ) stunning equipment in good condition and in good efficient working order, and suitable and approved for the humane slaughter of ostriches and other ratite birds, in guidelines issued by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
( c ) suitable corrosion resistant shackles, and loose shackling chains of sufficient length to enable animals to remain standing when shackled live, and a hoist and continuous rails for bleeding, that communicates with the defeathering room and the dressing rails in the dressing room, or area and that is of a sufficient height to ensure all parts of the ostrich or other ratite bird, including the head, does not come in contact with the floor or other surfaces, when hoisted and suspended.
( d ) a separate bleeding area where blood must be drained to a separate suitable blood draining system, or collected in suitable leak proof containers.
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paragraphs: (1) A separate suitable defeathering room of adequate size and height, separated by doors from the slaughter dressing, skinning and evisceration areas or rooms, and with a suitable rail system for the suspension of animals (including the heads) above the floor, and suitable facilities, (including suitable containers for the collection of feathers) shall be provided for the plucking and defeathering of ostriches and other ratite birds unless the requirements of paragraph (2) are complied with.
Where scalding or wet plucking and de-feathering is carried out, a separate area and suitable facilities and equipment to ensure efficient complete wet plucking and de-feathering must be provided.
(2) ( a ) a slaughter, stunning and bleeding room may also be used for plucking and de-feathering, if of adequate size and height, to carry out these operations, and to comply with Regulations 8, 9, 10, 20, 21, 22 and 23 of these Regulations, provided blood is collected in a suitable manner in the bleeding area and is not allowed fall on the floor of the de-feathering area and provided the room complies with the requirements for a defeathering room at paragraph (1); a separate de-feathering area, adequately separated from the stunning and bleeding slaughter area must be provided in the slaughter room, if also used for de-feathering.
( b ) a separate pig scalding and dehairing room may also be used to pluck and defeather ostriches or other ratite birds provided the room is of adequate size and height, and satisfies the requirement of paragraph (1) for a defeathering room, and provided it is stringently and thoroughly cleaned and clean, before and after such use.
(3) The room in which ostriches or other ratite birds are plucked and defeathered shall be fitted with a mechanical air extractor fan and vent, for the removal of down and dust from the abattoirs atmosphere during plucking and de-feathering operations.
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paragraphs: A continuous communicating overhead rail system shall be provided and suitably positioned and used to suspend ostriches or other ratite birds, including the head and neck above the floor, in a manner that avoids contact with any surfaces, in the slaughter area or room, de-feathering room and dressing, skinning and evisceration area or room, to enable ostriches or other ratite birds to be moved by rail, between the aforesaid areas and rooms, for bleeding, plucking, dressing, skinning and evisceration.
A transfer hoist must be provided and used to transfer carcasses to the dressing rail after skinning and removal of the legs at the tibial tarsal (hock) joints, unless the transfer can be otherwise carried out hygienically without risk of contamination or without removal of the carcass from a suspended position on the rail system.
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paragraphs: (1) A separate dressing area or room of adequate size and height shall be provided for the skinning, evisceration and dressing of ostriches and other ratite birds, and must be located in a separate room, to the room used for de-feathering, and shall be arranged to provide (i) a skinning area with adequate space for skinning operations and (ii) an evisceration area, with adequate space for evisceration operations, spatially separated and connected by a continuous overhead rail for dressing animals, suspended above the floor at a suitable height and in a suitable position. A door or doors shall be provided, between the dressing area or room and the room in which de-feathering is carried out.
(2) Ostriches and other ratite birds may be skinned, eviscerated and dressed in the same dressing area or room as other animals, provided it is a separate room to the room used for the de-feathering of the ostriches and other ratite birds.
(3) Suitable containers or other hygienic means shall be provided for the retention and identification of viscera, with the carcass, for veterinary inspection, and suitable barrows and containers shall be provided for waste offals.
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paragraphs: (1) A suitable cold room of adequate size and dimensions, shall be provided, for the refrigeration of ostrich and other ratite birds carcasses and red offals immediately after slaughter to an internal temperature of 4 degrees centigrade or cooler in the case of carcasses, or parts of carcasses and at an internal temperature of 3 degrees centigrade or cooler in the case of offals, intended for human consumption.
(2)The cold room must be equipped with rails, or hanging frames, and hooks, trees and other facilities for suspending and hanging carcasses and red offals (hearts, livers, neck) hygienically without risk of contamination, in a manner that ensures carcasses, red offals or meat do not come in contact with the floor, walls, doors, fittings or other surfaces, and that ensures the free circulation of chilled air around carcasses.
(3) Ostrich and other ratite bird carcasses and red offals must be stored in a separate cold room or in a cold room used for refrigerated storage of carcasses or meat of other species of animals provided such cold room is large enough to enable such carcasses and red offals to be stored in a separate area, and provided such cold room is maintained under refrigeration to chill and store such carcasses and red offal at the aforementioned temperatures in accordance with these Regulations.
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paragraphs: Where the carcasses or meat of ostriches or other ratite birds are cut up, or wrapped or vacuum wrapped or packaged at the abattoir:—
( a ) cut up meat that is not wrapped or packaged must be stored at an internal temperature of 3 degrees centigrade or cooler in a separate cold room equipped with a centigrade thermometer, or in separate refrigerated accommodation equipped with a centigrade thermometer, of adequate size and capacity or in a separate area of the cold room referred to in Regulation 13 or of a cold room used for refrigerated storage of carcasses or meat of other species of animals if of adequate size to provide such a separate area for the storage of such meat in a manner that will avoid its contamination,
( b ) wrapped or vacuum wrapped meat wrapped in food grade plastic wrapping only, must be stored at an internal temperature of 3 degrees centigrade or cooler, in a separate cold room equipped with a centigrade thermometer, or in separate refrigerated accommodation equipped with a centigrade thermometer, of adequate size and capacity for the storage of such meat only or alternatively, if permitted in writing by the Department of Agriculture and Food, it may be stored in a separate area of the cold room referred to in Regulation 13 or of a cold room used for refrigerated storage of carcasses or meat of other species of animals adequately and spatially separated from exposed fresh meat or carcasses, in a manner that will avoid contamination, if of adequate size to satisfy this requirement, unless such permission is withdrawn,
( c ) packaged meat must be stored at an internal temperature of 3 degrees centigrade or cooler in a separate cold room equipped with a centigrade thermometer, or in a separate refrigerated accommodation, equipped with a centigrade thermometer of adequate size and capacity, for the separate storage of packaged meat only,
( d ) deep frozen meat must be stored in accordance with Regulation 27, at an internal temperature of minus 12 degrees centigrade, or colder,
( e ) all meat referred to in this Regulation, must be stored in a manner that will avoid its contamination, and cold rooms must be equipped for the storage of such meat, and its containers, off floors.
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paragraphs: A vermin proof skin room must be provided and used for the storage of skins of ostriches and other ratite birds unless removed from the abattoir on the day of slaughter.
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paragraphs: A separate vermin proof feather storage room, must be provided and used for the storage of feathers, unless removed from the abattoir on the day of slaughter, or unless stored as waste, in a vermin proof waste room or covered skip or container, in the waste area.
Part V
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ABATTOIRS SLAUGHTERING OSTRICHES AND OTHER RATITE BIRDS.
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paragraphs: (1) Ostriches or other ratite birds may only be slaughtered in an abattoir, on days when no other species of animal is slaughtered in the abattoir.
(2) Abattoir premises and equipment used to slaughter ostriches or other ratite birds, and other species of animals, must be stringently and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before and after they are so used, and must be maintained in an absolutely clean condition.
(3) Persons employed in the abattoir, and involved in the handling, reception, unloading, movement, lairaging, care and slaughter of ostriches or other ratite birds, shall have the knowledge and skill necessary to perform all such operations and duties humanely and efficiently, in accordance with these Regulations.
(4) The farmer supplier of the holding of origin of the ostriches or other ratite birds shall be obliged:—