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Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain. Problems in the valorization of cattle feet in slaughterhouses. Brussels - January 2014. V. Helbo - G. De Smedt – P. Naassens DG Controle Policy Animal Production. I. Current regulation Regulation (EC) N° 853/2004.
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Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain Problems in the valorization of cattle feet in slaughterhouses Brussels - January 2014 V. Helbo - G. De Smedt – P. Naassens DG Controle Policy Animal Production
I. Current regulation Regulation (EC) N° 853/2004
Regulation (EC) N° 853/2004 ANNEX III SECTION I: MEAT OF DOMESTIC UNGULATES CHAPTER II: REQUIREMENTS FOR SLAUGHTERHOUSES 2) • To avoid contaminating meat, they must: • ensure separation in space or time of the following operations : … v) preparation and cleaning of other offal, particularly the handling of skinned heads if it does not take place at the slaughter line; vi) packaging offal,
Regulation (EC) N° 853/2004 ANNEX III SECTION I: MEAT OF DOMESTIC UNGULATES CHAPTER IV: SLAUGHTER HYGIENE 18) When destined for further handling: …. • heads and feet must be skinned or scalded and depilated.
Problem • The Belgian slaughterhouses want to valorize the feet of slaughtered cattle, but due their limited production they have not the required installations to perform treatments (skinning or scalding and depilating) prior to the sale of these offal. Furthermore a big investment to valorize cattle feet could not be profitable by most Belgian slaughterhouses. • Customers of these slaughterhouses could perform themselves treatments
Belgian proposal Belgium suggests to amend the annex III of the Regulation (EC) N° 853/2004 to allow a better valorization of the cattle feet by the slaughterhouses without putting in jeopardy the safety of the food chain
Belgian proposal • With a specific authorization of the competent authority the feet of animals that have been declared fit for human consumption, would be allowed to leave the slaughterhouse without prior skinning or scalding and depilating, but after washing and cooling (3°C) • The storage and transport conditions should avoid contaminating meat and comply with the hygiene rules and proper techniques for the handling and transportation • With a specific authorization of the competent authority, the approved handling establishment that receives untreated feet, should carry out the skinning or the scalding and the depilating of feet
Belgian proposal • To obtain an authorization of the competent authority to carry out this specific activity, an establishment should develop specific procedures within their self-checking system and then it should meet the specific requirements of the authorities • To maintain this authorization, the handling establishments should demonstrate that the covered products under this authorization present no risk to the safety of the food chain through a relevant HACCP plan and a suitable sampling plan
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