S.L. 437.50 Art. 23Measures in relation to fresh meat produced in the protection zone.

(1) The competent authority shall ensure that the placing on the market of fresh meat, minced meat and meat preparations, derived from animals of susceptible species originating in the protection zone, shall be prohibited.

(2) The competent authority shall ensure that the placing on the market of fresh meat, minced meat and meat preparations from animals of susceptible species produced in establishments situated in the protection zone, shall be prohibited.

(3) The competent authority shall ensure that fresh meat, minced meat and meat preparations as referred to in sub-rule (1), shall be marked in accordance with European Union Council Directive 2002/99/EC and subsequently transported in sealed containers to an establishment designated by the competent authorities for transformation into meat products treated in accordance with point 1 in Part A of Schedule VII of these rules.

(4) By way of derogation, the prohibition provided for in sub-rule (1) shall not apply to fresh meat, minced meat and meat preparations which were produced on a date at least twenty-one days before the estimated date of earliest infection on a holding in the protection zone and which since production have been stored and transported separately from such meats produced after that date. Such meats must be readily distinguished from meats not eligible for dispatch outside the protection zone by means of a clear mark established in conformity with European Community legislation.

(5) By way of derogation, the prohibition provided for in sub-rule (2), shall not apply to fresh meat, minced meat or meat preparations obtained from establishments situated in the protection zone under the following conditions:

(a) the establishment shall be operated under strict veterinary control;

(b) only fresh meat, minced meat or meat preparations as described in sub-rule (4), or fresh meat, minced meat or meat preparations obtained from animals reared and slaughtered outside the protection zone or from animals transported to the establishment and slaughtered therein in accordance with the provisions in rule 22(2)(b) shall be processed in the establishment;

(c) all such fresh meat, minced meat or meat preparations, must bear the health mark in accordance with Chapter XI of Annex I to European Union Council Directive 64/433/EEC or in the case of meat from other biungulates the health mark provided for in Chapter III of Annex I to European Union Council Directive 91/ 495/EEC, or in the case of minced meat and meat preparations the health mark as provided for in Chapter VI of Annex I to European Union Council Directive 94/65/EC;

(d) during the whole production process all such fresh meat, minced meat or meat preparations must be clearly identified, and transported and stored separately from fresh meat, minced meat or meat preparations which are not eligible for dispatch outside the protection zone in accordance with these rules.

(6) Compliance with the conditions in sub-rule (5) shall be certified by the competent authority for fresh meat, minced meat and meat preparations intended for intra-European Community trade. The competent authority shall supervise the control of compliance undertaken by the local veterinary authority and, in the case of intra-European Community trade, communicate to other Member States and the European Commission a list of those establishments which it has approved for the purpose of such certification.

(7) Derogation from the prohibition provided for in sub-rule (1) may be granted subject to specific conditions adopted in accordance with European Union legislation, in particular with regard to the health marking of meat produced from animals of susceptible species originating in protection zones maintained for more than thirty days.