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Table 1 An overview of EU legislation controlling activities in pigmeat plants

From: Good animal welfare makes economic sense: potential of pig abattoir meat inspection as a welfare surveillance tool

EU legislation Areas covered by EU legislation
Food safety Notifiable disease Animal welfare Quality Trade EU legislation
Control of micro-organisms and implementing rules for hygeine measures X    X X REGULATION (EC) No 2073/2005 of 15 November 2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs, Annex 1, Chapter 2.1
Compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules X X X   X Regulation (EC) 882/2004 of 29 April 2004 on official controls to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and AW rules
Monitoring for residues of prohibited substances X    X X Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products
Surveillance for Trichinella X X    X Regulation (EC) No 2075/2005 of 5 December 2005 laying down specific rules on official controls for Trichinella in meat Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of 29 April 2004 laying down specific rules for the organization of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption
Audits of good hygiene practices (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP)) X    X X Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of 29 April 2004 laying down specific rules for the organization of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption, Article 4, 4
Rules for official controls regarding checks on: Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of 29 April 2004 laying down specific rules for the organization of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption
Surface of skin and fractured bones   X X X  
Exsanguinations    X X  
Emaciation    X X  
Sexual odour     X  
Faecal contamination X    X X  
Microbiological content of foodstuffs X     X Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 of 15 November 2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs
General hygiene requirements for reducing risk of pathogens present on the meat X X    X Regulations (EC) No. 852/2004 and 853/2004 of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin
Monitoring of zoonoses X     X Directive 2003/99/EC of 17 November 2003 on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents
Control of Salmonella X     X Regulation (EC) No. 2160/2003 of 17 November 2003 on the control of salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents
  1. Sources:[3, 10].