Meat Inspection History (2000s)
The history of the centralised Meat Inspection Service of Northern Ireland from the late 2000s.
2000s
In April 2000 the UK
Food Standards Agency (FSA) took over responsibility from agriculture Departments within the UK in relation to meat hygiene. In Northern Ireland the implementation responsibilities for primary and much of the secondary meat processing is carried out on behalf of FSA-NI by DARD Veterinary Service. This arrangement is formalised by a Service Level Agreement between FSA-NI and DARD Veterinary Service and will be audited independently by the FSA, an arrangement that we fully support.
The latest changes impacting on us are
- The lift of the ban of slaughtering cattle older than 30 months. From the 07th November 2005 it has been possible, in slaughterhouses licensed by DARD and under tighter control, to slaughter these animals and to health mark their carcases, provided a negative result from a TSE test.
- From 1st January 2006 the new Hygiene Package repealed most of the hygiene Regulations since 1996. Some changes are substantial i.e. the introduction of the concept of food’s traceability, the removal of the low throughput concept and the overall responsibility of the Food Business Occupiers about their production.
- The Beef Ban has been lifted on 03rd May 2006 and therefore United Kingdom can trade beef to EU Member States and/or export to Third Countries. Some changes on our supervision have been implemented to harmonise the Official Control throughout all Europe.
