The Food Standards Agency (FSA) yesterday said it also proposes to exempt UK processors from a Commission proposal to allow them to continue the English tradition of ageing meat that is used to produce minced meat.

The consultation on amendments to the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/14) mirror proposed new Commission legislation in relation to minced meat, some types of fresh meat and game meat.

The key amendments to the EU law include allowing slaughterhouses formerly classified as low throughput to be exempted from the requirement to have facilities for detained meat. Such plants would also be exempted from the need to have a place to cleanse and disinfect livestock vehicles.

Another amendment would introduce a format for a special health and identification mark to be used on carcasses of animals subject to emergency slaughter outside a slaughterhouse. The mark would also be used to identify meat derived from such carcasses.

Source: foodproductiondaily.com