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Resolution of the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation No. 517 of 1986 regarding animal slaughter and meat trade.

Country/Territory
Egypt
Document type
Regulation
Date
1986
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Livestock, Food & nutrition
Keyword
Camelids Cattle Equine-animals Hygiene/sanitary procedures International trade Meat Monitoring Poultry products Procedural matters Public health Traceability/product tracing Transport/storage Vending Treated food Food quality control/food safety Animal health Animal production Authorization/permit Inspection Internal trade Marking/identification Organic waste Poultry Sheep/goats Slaughtering Royalties/fees
Geographical area
Africa, Mediterranean, Middle East, Near East and North Africa, Northern Africa, Red Sea & Gulf of Aden
Entry into force notes
This Resolution enters into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Abstract

This Resolution consisting of 35 articles aims at regulating slaughtering operations and meat trade in Egypt. It establishes rules for the slaughter operations, such as (i) only cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, camels, pigs (only in slaughterhouses where their slaughter is permitted) and poultry may be slaughtered for the purpose of human consumption; (ii) male cow calves may not be slaughtered before they reach the age of two years unless their weight reaches 300 kg (not applied to calves imported for slaughter) while a female can be slaughtered only after completing the replacement of all incisors; (iii) different procedures for slaughter, depending on the type of animal. It establishes procedural matters, such as (i) public and private slaughterhouses and slaughter points are determined by a decision of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, and the cities, neighborhoods or villages that fall within the scope of each slaughterhouse are determined by a decision of the competent Governor; (ii) they are subject to the supervision and control of the General Authority for Veterinary Services that sets also the necessary conditions for establishing and operating slaughterhouses and slaughter points; (iii) slaughtering fees are collected before the entry of the animal to the slaughterhouse; (iv) action prohibited in the slaughterhouses; (v) the entrance in the slaughterhouse is permitted only to persons authorized by a license from the administration and after completing the medical examination procedures; (vi) the sale of meat from animals slaughtered outside the slaughterhouse circuit needs specific procedures; (vii) in the case of an emergency slaughter outside the slaughterhouse, the owner of the slaughtered animal must prove the case at the nearest police station to the place of slaughter, and he must immediately deliver it to the nearest slaughterhouse, complete with all its parts and contents intact without separating any part of it. It establishes also sanitary rules, such as (i) before entering the slaughterhouse, the competent veterinarian must perform a virtual examination on live animals and poultry; (ii) the disposal of slaughtered wastes shall be under control of the supervising authority of the slaughterhouse, taking into account the transfer of these wastes to the concerned bodies shall be accomplished in vehicles that meet the health conditions; (iii) it is not permissible to display or sell imported meat, whether frozen or chilled, and its products unless after fulfilling the veterinary health conditions determined by the General Authority for Veterinary Services; (iv) the meat must be stamped with the seal according to the type and age; (v) it is prohibited to offer or sell meat, parts, organs, offal or fat of sick or damaged animals that are not fit for human consumption; (vi) all refrigerators, cold stores and freezing stores designated for preserving meat, poultry and fish are subject to the supervision of the General Authority for Veterinary Services; (vii) the competent veterinarian, before authorizing slaughter, must ensure the availability of health conditions in the abattoir, the cleanliness of the wards, the availability of safe water, and the validity of the drainage system; (viii) sanitary and hygienic conditions in the transportation, storage, arrangement and handling of items stored inside and outside refrigerators, and the necessary disinfection of vacated wards before they are used for new storage.

Full text
Arabic