1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 27 November 1990
concerning public health and animal health problems affecting the production and placing on the
market of rabbit meat and farmed game meat
(91/495/EEC)
(OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 41)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 L 268 54 14.9.1992
►M2 Council Directive 92/116/EEC of 17 December 1992 L 62 1 15.3.1993
►M3 Council Directive 94/65/EC of 14 December 1994 L 368 10 31.12.1994
►M4 Council Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 of 14 April 2003 L 122 1 16.5.2003
Amended by:
►A1 Act of Accession of Austria, Sweden and Finland C 241 21 29.8.1994
(adapted by Council Decision 95/1/EC, Euratom, ECSC) L 1 1 1.1.1995
►A2 Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the
Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia,the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of
Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak
Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the EuropeanUnion is foundedL 236 33 23.9.2003
▼B
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 27 November 1990
concerning public health and animal health problems affecting the
production and placing on the market of rabbit meat and farmed
game meat
(91/495/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (3),
Whereas rabbit meat and farmed game meat are included in the list of
products in Annex II to the Treaty; whereas rabbit and game farmingare generally included in the farming sector; whereas this farmingconstitutes a source of income for part of the farming population;
Whereas, in order to ensure the rational development of this sector and
to improve productivity, rules concerning public health and animalhealth problems affecting the production and placing on the market ofrabbit meat and farmed game meat must be laid down at Community
level;
Whereas disparities as regards animal health and public health condi-
tions in the Member States should be eliminated in order to encourage
intra-Community trade in rabbit meat and farmed game meat, with a
view to the completion of the internal market;
Whereas diseases transmissible to domestic animals and humans may
be spread by rabbit meat and farmed game meat; whereas it is neces-
sary to lay down rules enabling these risks to be controlled;
Whereas the meat in question must be treated in good hygienic condi-
tions in order to avoid food-borne infections and intoxications;
Whereas Council Directive 82/894/EEC of 21 December 1982 on the
notification of animal diseases within the Community (
4), as last
amended by Directive 89/162/EEC (5), lays down the conditions for
notification of animal diseases in the Community; whereas it is oppor-tune to have, for certain contagious diseases affecting farmed game, thesame information as for other domestic animals;
Whereas Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health
problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat (
6), as last
amended by Directive 89/662/EEC (7) and Council Directive 71/118/
EEC of 15 February 1971 on health problems affecting trade in freshpoultrymeat (
8), as last amended by Directive 90/539/EEC (9), lay
down the health requirements for, respectively, fresh meat and fresh
poultrymeat; whereas farmed wildlife used for game production issimilar to farmed mammals and farmed birds; whereas it is thereforeopportune to extend to farmed game meat, while taking into accountcertain specific aspects, the health rules already applied for trade infresh meat and poultrymeat;1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 2
(1) OJ No C 327, 30. 12. 1989, p. 40.
(2) OJ No C 260, 15. 10. 1990, p. 154.
(3) OJ No C 124, 21. 5. 1990, p. 7.
(4) OJ No L 378, 31. 12. 1982, p. 58.
(5) OJ No L 61, 4. 3. 1989, p. 48.
(6) OJ No 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 2012/64.
(7) OJ No L 395, 30. 12. 1989, p. 13.
(8) OJ No L 55, 8. 3. 1971, p. 23.
(9) OJ No L 303, 31. 10. 1990, p. 6.
▼B
Whereas it is appropriate to lay down exceptions for small quantitites
of rabbit meat and farmed game meat used for local trade;
Whereas, in respect of the organization of, and the follow-up to, the
checks to be carried out by the Member State of destination and the
safeguard measures to be implemented, reference should be made tothe general rules laid down in Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26June 1990 concerning veterinary and zoo-technical checks applicablein intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a
view to the completion of the internal market (
1);
Whereas the Commission should be entrusted with the task of adopting
measures for applying this Directive; whereas, to that end, provisionshould be made for procedures establishing close and effective coop-eration between the Commission and the Member States within theStanding Veterinary Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
CHAPTER I
General rules
Article 1
This Directive lays down requirements concerning public health and
animal health problems affecting the production and placing on themarket of rabbit meat and farmed game meat.
Article 2
For the purposes of this Directive, the definitions given in Article 2 of
Directive 64/433/EEC and in Article 2 of Directive 71/118/EEC shall
apply.
The following definitions shall also apply:1. ‘rabbit meat’: all parts of domestic rabbit which are fit for human
consumption;
2. ‘farmed game meat’: all parts of wild land mammals and wild birds
— including the species referred to in Article 2 (1) of Directive 90/539/EEC ►
M1 and ratites (Ratitae) ◄— bred, reared and slaugh-
tered in captivity which are fit for human consumption;
3. ‘farmed game’: land mammals, ►A1 including reindeer ◄ or
birds, which are not considered as domestic and not referred to inArticle 1 (1) of Directive 64/433/EEC or ►
M2 in Article 2 of
Directive 71/118/EEC ◄, but which are farmed as domestic
animals. However, wild mammals living within an enclosed territoryunder conditions of freedom similar to those enjoyed by wild game
shall not be deemed farmed game;
4. ‘country of production’: the Member State in the territory of which
the farm of production is situated.
CHAPTER II
Rules applicable to the production and placing on the market of
rabbit meat
Article 3
1. Member States shall see to it that rabbit meat:
(a) is obtained in an establishment fulfilling the general conditions of
Directive 71/118/EEC and approved for the purposes of thischapter in accordance with Article 14;1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 3
(1) OJ No L 224, 18. 9. 1990, p. 29.
▼B
(b) comes from animals from farms or areas in which bans have not
been imposed for veterinary inspection reasons;
(c) comes from animals which have undergone ante-mortem inspection
by an official veterinarian or by assistants, in accordance with
Article 4 of Directive 71/118/EEC, such inspection being in accor-dance with Chapter I of Annex I to this Directive and which havebeen deemed suitable for slaughter following such inspection;
(d) has been treated under satisfactory hygiene conditions similar to
those provided for in Chapter V of Annex I to Directive 71/118/
EEC, except for those in points 28a and 28b;
(e) has undergone, in accordance with Chapter II of Annex I to this
Directive, post-mortem inspection by an official veterinarian or,pursuant to Article 4 of Directive 71/118/EEC, by assistants, andhas not shown any change except for traumatic lesions whichoccurred shortly before slaughter or localized malformations or
changes, provided that it is established, if necessary by appropriate
laboratory tests, that these do not render the carcase or offal unfitfor human consumption or dangerous to human health;
(f) bears a health mark in accordance with Chapter III of Annex I to
this Directive.
A decision may be taken, where appropriate, to amend or supple-
ment the provisions of the aforementioned Chapter in accordance
with the procedure provided for in Article 20, in order to take intoaccount notably the different forms of presentation, providing theyconform to the rules covering hygiene; in particular, and by way ofderogation from the said Chapter, the said procedure shall deter-mine — before 1 January 1992 for the first time — the conditions
under which the marketing, in large packages, which have not been
marked in accordance with section 11.3 (a) of the said Chapter, ofcarcases, parts of carcases or of offal may be authorized;
(g) is stored in accordance with Chapter IV of Annex I to this Direc-
tive after post-mortem inspection under satisfactory hygieneconditions in establishments approved in accordance with Article
14 or in stores approved in accordance with Community rules;
(h) has been transported under satisfactory hygiene conditions in accor-
dance with Chapter V of Annex I to this Directive;
(i) in the case of parts of carcases or boned meat, has also been
obtained in conditions similar to those provided for in Article 3 ofDirective 71/118/EEC, in establishments specially approved for this
purpose in accordance with Article 14 of this Directive.
2. Each Member State shall also see to it that fresh rabbit meat sent
to the territory of another Member State is accompanied by a health
certificate during its transport to the country of destination.
The original of the health certificate, which must accompany the fresh
rabbit meat during its transport to the consignee, must be issued by an
official veterinarian at the moment of loading. The health certificatemust correspond, in presentation and context, to the model in AnnexII; it must be drawn up at least in the language or languages of thecountry of destination and must contain the information provided forin the model in the said Annex.
Article 4
1. By way of derogation from Article 3, Member States may
authorize:
(a) the direct supply of rabbit meat by a small producer to a private
individual for his own consumption;
(b) the supply of fresh rabbit meat in small quantities, by farmers who
produce rabbits on a small scale:
— either directly to the final consumer at those local markets
which are closest to their farms,1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 4
▼B
— or to a retailer with a view to direct sale to the final consumer,
provided that such retailer conducts his business in the samelocality as that of the producer or in a neighbouring locality.
The said possible derogation shall not include itinerant sales, mail
order sales and, as far as the retailer is concerned, sales on a market.
2. Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure the
health control of these operations provided for in paragraph 1 and toadopt rules enabling the original holding of such meat to be traced.
3. Under the procedure laid down in Article 20, the Commission
may adopt the detailed rules for applying this Article and in particular,at the request of Member State, fix the maximum limits of quantities
which may be supplied pursuant to paragraph 1.
CHAPTER III
Rules applicable to the production and marketing of farmed game
meat
Article 5
Member States shall ensure that intra-Community trade in farmed game
meat is subject:
(a) where farmed game birds are concerned, to the requirements of
Council Directive 91/494/EEC of 26 June 1990 on animal healthconditions governing intra-Community trade in and imports fromthird countries of fresh poultrymeat (
1);
(b) where other species of farmed game are concerned, to the require-
ments of Council Directive 72/461/EEC of 12 December 1972 onhealth problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat (
2),
as last amended by Directive 89/662/EEC.
Article 6
1. Farmed game meat obtained from cloven-hoofed wild land
mammals shall fulfil the relevant conditions referred to in Article 3and Article 5 (b) to (k) of Directive 64/433/EEC, provided that the
original herd undergoes regular veterinary inspection and is not under
any restrictions following the survey performed according to Article 11or as a result of veterinary inspection. The detailed rules for thisinspection shall be laid down in accordance with the procedure set outin Article 20.
The animals in question shall be treated at different times from bovine
animals, swine, sheep and goats.
The health certificate which must accompany such meat shall corre-
spond to the model in Annex IV to this Directive.
Meat from farmed wild pigs or other species sensitive to Trichina
infestation shall be subjected to examination by digestion in accordancewith Council Directive 77/96/EEC of 21 December 1976 on examina-tion for Trichinae (trichinella spiralis) upon importation from thirdcountries of fresh meat derived from domestic swine (
3) as last
amended by Directive 89/321/EEC (4).
2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the official service may authorize
the slaughter of farmed game in the place of origin, where it cannotbe transported, in order to avoid any risk for the handler or to protect1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 5
(1) See page 35 of this Official Journal.
(2) OJ No L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 24.
(3) OJ No L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 67.
(4) OJ No L 133, 17. 5. 1989, p. 33.
▼B
the welfare of the animals. This authorization may be granted provided
that:
— the herd undergoes regular veterinary inspection and is not under
any restrictions following the survey performed according to Article
12 or as a result of veterinary inspection,
— a request is submitted by the owner of the animals,— the official service is informed in advance of the date of slaugh-
tering of the animals,
— the holding has a centre for mustering wild animals where an ante-
mortem inspection of the group for slaughter can be carried out,
— the holding has premises suitable for the slaughter, sticking and
bleeding of the animals,
— slaughter by means of sticking and bleeding is preceded by stun-
ning, which must be carried out in the conditions laid down inDirective 74/577/EEC (
1); the veterinary service may authorize
shooting only in special cases,
— the slaughtered and bled animals are hung as quickly as possible
after slaughter and are transported under satisfactory hygiene condi-tions to a slaughterhouse approved in accordance with Directive 66/433/EEC. Where game slaughtered at the place of rearing cannot bebrought within the hour to a slaughterhouse approved in accordancewith Article 8 of Directive 64/433/EEC, it must be transported in a
container or means of transport in which the ambient temperature is
maintained at between 0 ºC and 4 ºC. Evisceration must be carriedout no later than three hours after stunning. ►
A1 However, all
operations for the slaughter of reindeer may be carried out inmobile slaughter units in accordance with the provisions of Direc-
tive 64/433/EEC, ◄
— during transportation to the slaughterhouse the slaughtered animals
are accompanied by a certificate issued by the veterinary serviceattesting to the favourable outcome of the ante-mortem inspection,the correct conduct of bleeding and the time of slaughter; this certi-
ficate must correspond to the model in Annex III.
3. Pending the adoption of health rules applicable to meat reserved
for the domestic market, the slaughtering of farmed big game and thecutting and storage of the meat referred to in paragraph 1 may, by way
of derogation from paragraph 1, be performed in establishments
approved by the national authorities for the domestic market, providedthat such meat does not enter intra-Community trade.
4. Member States shall ensure that mechanically recovered meat
may be traded only if it has previously undergone heat treatment in
accordance with Directive 77/99/EEC in the establishment of origin or
any other establishment designated by the competent authority.
Article 7
1. Countries of destination may, with due regard for the general
provisions of the Treaty, grant one or more countries of consignment
general authorizations or authorizations restricted to specific cases,whereby the fresh meat referred to in Article 5 (b) and (i) to (k) ofDirective 64/433/EEC may be admitted to their territory.
Such fresh meat may be sent solely in accordance with Article 3 (1)
and (3) of Directive 64/433/EEC.
2. If a country of destination grants a general authorization in accor-
dance with paragraph 1, it shall immediately inform the other Member
States and the Commission thereof.
3. The countries of consignment shall make all necessary arrange-
ments to ensure that health certificates, a specimen of which is1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 6
(1) OJ No L 316, 26. 11. 1974, p. 10.▼M3
▼B
▼B
provided in Annex IV, mention that one of the options provided for in
paragraph 1 has been taken up.
Article 8
Meat of farmed game birds shall fulfil the conditions referred to in
Article 3 of Directive 71/118/EEC.
Meat of farmed game birds intended for intra-Community trade shall
be accompanied by the health certificate provided for in Article 8 ofDirective 71/118/EEC, which shall correspond to the model in AnnexIV to this Directive.
However, notwithstanding Chapter V (23) of Annex I to Directive 71/
118/EEC, where, in the case of quail and pigeon, the evisceration tech-nique used does not permit complete health inspection of the viscera ofeach bird, that inspection may be carried out on a sample of at least 5 %
of each batch of 500 birds, and in corresponding proportion beyond
500 birds, provided that the batches are homogeneous in terms of theirnature, weight and origin.
Where the results are not clearly satisfactory, the opinion expressed on
the basis of such sample inspection of the viscera as to whether theslaughtered birds are fit for consumption shall apply to the entire batch.
Article 9
Notwithstanding Article 8, first subparagraph, in the case of meat from
farmed game birds obtained and put on the market in their territory,Member States may, with due regard for the general provisions of theTreaty, grant those slaughterhouses or cutting premises situated in theirterritory which were engaged in that activity prior to the date of notifi-cation of this Directive and which expressly so request, a derogation
from the slaughter and evisceration provisions laid down in Chapter V
of Annex I to Directive 71/118/EEC in the case of the production ofpartially eviscerated or non-eviscerated farmed game birds.
The use of the health mark provided for in Chapter X of Annex I to
Directive 71/118/EEC shall be prohibited in the event that this deroga-tion is exercised.
Article 10
Article 8 shall not apply to meat of farmed game birds which, in
isolated cases, is supplied by the producer thereof direct to the final
consumer for his own consumption otherwise than by itinerant sale,sale by mail order or sale on a market.
Under the procedure laid down in Article 20, the Commission may
adopt the detailed rules for applying this Article and in particular, atthe request of Member State, fix the maximum limits of quantitieswhich may be supplied pursuant to the first paragraph.
CHAPTER IV
Common provisions
Article 11
1. Member States shall ensure that a survey of the health of rabbit
and farmed game is performed on holdings on their territories at
regular intervals.
2. To this end a central service or body shall be entrusted with the
task of collecting and using the results of the health inspections carried
out in accordance with this Directive, where diseases transmissible tohumans or animals or the presence of residues in excess of permittedlevels are diagnosed.
3. Where a disease or condition referred to in paragraph 2 is diag-
nosed, the survey results relating to the specific case shall becommunicated as soon as possible to the official service responsiblefor supervision of the stock from which the animals originate.1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 7
▼B
4. Depending on the epizootic situation, the official service shall
carry out specific tests on farmed game in order to detect the presenceof the diseases referred to in Annex I to Directive 82/894/EEC.
The presence of these diseases shall be communicated to the Commis-
sion and to the other Member States in accordance with the saidDirective.
Article 12
1. Member States shall supplement their plans for measures on resi-
dues referred to in Article 4 of Council Directive 86/469/EEC of 16September 1986 concerning the examination of animals and freshmeat for the presence of residues (
1) in order to subject rabbits and
farmed game to the inspections provided for in that Directive and also
to monitor wild game for contaminants present in the environment.
2. Taking into account the results of the monitoring referred to
Article 11 (4), Member States shall impose limitations on the use ofgame meat from holdings or territories implicated by the monitoring.
3. The Commission shall adopt the detailed rules for application of
this Article in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20.
Article 13
Rabbit meat or meat of farmed game birds shall not be used for human
consumption if:
(a) found to have one of the faults listed in point 9 (a) of Annex I;
(b) originating from animals to which substances likely to make the
meat dangerous or harmful to human health have been adminis-tered and on which a decision has been taken, in accordance withthe procedure provided for in Article 20, following the opinion ofthe Scientific Veterinary Committee. Pending that decision,national rules on authorized substances shall remain in force in
accordance with the general provisions of the Treaty;
(c) without prejudice to possible Community regulations applicable in
the field of ionization, treated with ionizing or ultraviolet radiaton
or treated with tenderizers or other substances which could affect
the organoleptic properties of the meat or colorants other than thoseused for health marking.
Article 14
1. Each Member State shall draw up a list of the establishments
approved by it, each establishment having a veterinary approvalnumber. Member States may approve for slaughtering and cutting ofrabbit and farmed game establishments approved according to Directive71/118/EEC or Directive 64/433/EEC, provided that those establish-ments are equipped for the processing of rabbit meat and/or farmed
game meat and that those operations are performed in such a way as
to comply with hygiene rules. Member States shall send this list tothe other Member States and to the Commission.
2. No Member State shall approve an establishment unless compli-
ance with this Directive is assured. Member States shall withdraw
approval if the conditions for granting it cease to be fulfilled.
3. If a check has been made in accordance with Article 16, the
Member State concerned shall take account of the conclusions resultingtherefrom. The other Member States and the Commission shall be
informed of the withdrawal of approval.
4. Inspection and supervision of approved establishments shall be
carried out under the responsibility of the official veterinarian who,without prejudice to the tasks devolved to assistants under Directive71/118/EEC, may be assisted in purely material tasks by staff specially1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 8
(1) OJ No L 275, 26. 9. 1986, p. 36.
▼B
trained for the purpose. The official veterinarian must at all times have
free access to all parts of establishments in order to ensure that thisDirective is being complied with.
The detailed rules governing this assistance shall be determined in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20.
Article 15
Veterinary experts from the Commission may, insofar as it is necessary
to ensure uniform application of this Directive, make on-the-spotchecks in co-operation with the competent authorities of the MemberStates; they may verify whether approved establishments are actually
complying with this Directive. The Commission shall inform the
Member States of the results of the checks.
A Member State in whose territory a check is being carried out shall
give all the necessary assistance to the experts carrying out their duties.
The general provisions for implementing this Article shall be deter-
mined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20.
Article 16
1. The rules laid down in Council Directive 89/662/EEC concerning
veterinary checks to be carried out in intra-Community trade with aview to the completion of the internal market shall apply in particularto the organization of, and the action to be taken following the checkscarried out by the country of destination and to the safeguard measuresto be applied in relation to health problems affecting the production
and distribution of rabbit and game meat in the territory of the
Community.
2. Directive 89/662/EEC shall be amended as follows:
(a) in Annex A, the following should be added in fine:
‘— Council Directive 91/495/EEC of 27 November 1990 on public
health and animal health problems affecting the production andplacing on the market of rabbit meat and farmed game meat.(OJ No L 268, 24. 9. 1991, p. 41) (Excluding rabbit meat andfarmed game meat imported from third countries)’;
(b) in Annex B, the indent ‘rabbit and game meat’ shall be replaced by
‘wild game meat’.
Article 17
Pending the implementation of Community provisions concerning
imports of rabbit and game meat from third countries, Member Statesshall apply to such imports provisions which are at least equivalent to
those of this Directive.
However, pending the implementation of these provisions, Member
States shall ensure that imports from third countries remain subject tothe rules laid down in the third subparagraph of Article 6 (1) (b) ofDirective 89/662/EEC and also that:
(i) fresh rabbit meat and fresh farmed game meat may not, under any
circumstances, bear the public health marking referred to inChapter X of Annex I to Directive 71/118/EEC and, if cut andboned, must be treated in accordance with Article 3 (1) (B) of
that Directive;
(ii) meat from species susceptible to trichinosis shall be subjected to
examination by digestion in accordance with Directive 77/96/EEC.
CHAPTER V
Final provisions
Article 18
This Directive shall not affect Community rules adopted in order to
protect wildlife.1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 9
▼B
Article 19
The Annexes to this Directive shall be amended by the Council acting
by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission in order in
particular to bring it into line with technological progress.
Article 20
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Committee on
the Food Chain and Animal Health set up pursuant to Article 58 ofRegulation (EC) No 178/2002 (
1).
2. Where reference is made to this Article, Articles 5 and 7 of Deci-
sion 1999/468/EC (2) shall apply.
The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be
set at three months.
3. The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.
Article 21
Pending implementation of Community health and veterinary inspec-
tion rules on the production and marketing of meat of wild game to
be adopted not later than 31 March 1991, wild game meat fit forconsumption shall be subject to the rules of Article 3 (3), the secondindent of the second subparagraph of Article 4 (1) and to Article 5 (2)of Directive 89/662/EEC.
Article 22
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and
administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive notlater than 1 January 1993. They shall forthwith inform the Commission
thereof.
2. When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a
reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such referenceon the occasion of their official publication. The methods of makingsuch a reference shall be laid down by the Member States.
Article 23
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 10
(1) OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.▼M4
▼B
▼B
ANNEX I
CHAPTER I
Ante-mortem health inspection of rabbits
1. Animals must undergo ante-mortem inspection before they are slaughtered.
As a general rule, such ante-mortem inspection must be carried out at the
holding before loading.
(a) If the ante-mortem inspection has been carried out at the holding of
origin, ante-mortem inspection at the slaughterhouse may be restricted
to detecting injuries received in transport if the rabbits have been
inspected at the holding of origin within the previous 24 hours and found
to be healthy. In addition, the identity of the rabbits must be proved on
arrival at the slaughterhouse.
If the ante-mortem inspection at the holding of origin and at the slaugh-
terhouse is not carried out by the same official veterinarian, a health
certificate stating the particulars required under Annex III must accom-
pany the animals.
(b) If the ante-mortem inspection is not carried out at the holding of origin,
rabbits for slaughter must undergo ante-mortem inspection within 24
hours of arrival at the slaughterhouse. The inspection must be repeated
immediately before slaughter if more than 24 hours have elapsed since
ante-mortem inspection.
The operator of the slaughterhouse or his agent must facilitate operations
for performing ante-mortem health inspections and in particular any
handling which is considered necessary.
Each animal or batch of animals sent for slaughter must be identified in
order to allow the competent authority to determine its origin.
2. The ante-mortem inspection must be carried out by the official veterinarian
in accordance with professional rules under suitable lighting.
3. The inspection must determine:
(a) whether the animals are suffering from a disease which can be trans-
mitted to humans or animals, whether they show symptoms or whether
their general condition is such as to indicate that the disease may occur;
(b) whether they show symptoms of a disease or of a disorder affecting their
general condition which may make the meat unfit for human consump-
tion.
4. Animals may not be slaughtered for human consumption where it is estab-
lished that they suffer from the conditions referred to at point 3.
5. The animals referred to at point 4 must be killed separately or after slaughter
of all other rabbits and their meat hygienically disposed of.
CHAPTER II
Post-mortem health inspection of rabbits
6. Slaughtered rabbits must be inspected immediately after slaughter.7. The post-mortem inspection must be carried out under suitable lighting.
8. The post-mortem health inspection must include:
(a) visual inspection of the slaughtered animal;
(b) palpation and, where necessary, incision of the lungs, liver, spleen,
kidneys and parts of the carcase which have undergone any change;
(c) investigations of anomalies of consistency, colour, smell and, where
appropriate, taste;
(d) where necessary, laboratory tests.
9. (a) Rabbits shall be declared totally unfit for human consumption where the
post-mortem inspection reveals the following:
— diseases transmissible to man or animals;
— malignant or multiple tumours; multiple abscesses;— extensive parasitic infestation in the subcutaneous or muscle tissues;
— presence of residues of forbidden substances or residues in excess of
permitted Community levels, including substances with a pharmaco-
logical effect;
— poisoning;1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 11
▼B
— extensive injuries or extensive blood or serum imbibition;
— anomalies as regards colour, smell or taste;
— anomalies as regards consistency, particularly oedema or severe
emaciation.
(b) Parts of slaughtered animals which show localized lesions or contamina-
tions not affecting the health of the rest of the meat shall be declared
unfit for human consumption.
(c) The results of the ante-mortem and post-mortem health inspections shall
be recorded by the official veterinarian and, if the presence of the
diseases referred to in point 3 or the presence of residues are found, these
shall be communicated to the authorities of the official service respon-
sible for supervision of the stock from which the animals originated, as
well as to the person responsible for the stock in question.
CHAPTER III
Public health marking
10. The public health marking must be made under the responsibility of the
official veterinarian, who shall keep and maintain for that purpose:
(a) instruments for making the public health marking on meat, to be handed
over to the assistant staff only at the actual time of marking and for the
length of time necessary for this purpose;
(b) labels and wrappers where these already bear one of the marks or of the
seals referred to in point 11. These labels, wrappers and seals shall be
handed over in the required number to the assistant staff at the time
when they must be used.
11. 1. The public health marking shall consist of the following:
(a)►A2 — on the upper part, the initial letter or letters in capitals of
the name of the country of dispatch: B - CZ - DK - D - EE - EL
-E-F-I R L-I-C Y-L V-L T-L-H U-M T-N L-A T-P L
- P - SI - SK - FIN - S - UK, ◄
— in the centre, the veterinary approval number of the slaughter-
house or, where appropriate, the cutting premises,
— on the lower part, one of the following sets of initials: CEE,
EØF, EWG, EOK, EEC, EEG, ETY, EHS, EMÜ, EEK, EEB,
EGK, KEE, EGS,
the letters and figures must be 0,2 cm high or
(b) an oval containing the information listed in (a); the letters must be
0,8 cm high and the figures 1,1 cm high.
2. The material used for marking must meet all hygiene requirements and
the information referred to in point 1 shall appear on it in perfectly
legible form.
3. (a) The public health marking referred to in point 1 (a) must be made:
— on unwrapped carcases by means of a seal containing the infor-
mation listed in point 1 (a),
— on or visibly beneath wrappers or other packaging of packed
carcases,
— on or visibly beneath wrappers or other packaging of parts of
carcases or offal packed in small quantities;
(b) The public health marking referred to in point 1 (b) must be made on
large packaging.
4. Where a public health marking appears on the wrapper or packaging in
accordance with point 3:
— it must be applied in such a way that it is destroyed when the
wrapper or packaging is opened, or
— the wrapper or packaging must be sealed in such a way that it cannot
be re-used after opening.
CHAPTER IV
Storage
12. After post-mortem inspection, rabbit meat must be chilled or frozen and
kept at a temperature which must not at any time exceed − 4 ºC if chilled
or − 12 ºC if frozen.1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 12
▼A2
▼B
▼B
CHAPTER V
Transport
13. The rabbit meat must be dispatched in such a way that during transport it is
protected from anything liable to contaminate it or to affect it unfavourably,
having regard to the duration and conditions of transport and to the meansof transport employed. In particular, vehicles used for this transport must be
equipped in such a way as to ensure that the temperatures laid down at
point 12 are not exceeded.1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 13
▼B
ANNEX II
MODEL
PUBLIC HEALTH CERTIFICATE
1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 14
▼B
1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 15
▼B
ANNEX III
MODEL
HEALTH CERTIFICATE
1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 16
▼B
ANNEX IV
MODEL
HEALTH CERTIFICATE
1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 17
▼B
1991L0495 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 006.001 — 18