Meat and meat establishments

The specific requirements for various edible co-products are set out in Annex 3, Sections 12 to 16 of Regulation 853/2004: 

Retained EU Regulation 853/2004 

Edible co-products are those products which, despite coming from animals passed fit for human consumption (they have passed ante and post-mortem inspections), must be processed in some way to make them suitable for human consumption. 

Edible co-products should not be confused with animal by-products (ABP). Whereas edible co-products are those parts of animals which can be suitable for human consumption after further processing, ABPs are entire animals or parts of animals which are not intended for human consumption. This might be because they are unfit/unsafe for human consumption or because a food business operator has decided they will not be used for human consumption, sometimes for commercial reasons. 

Read guidance for food business operators on the legislative requirements for the handling of edible co-products and ABPs.

The specific requirements for farmed game meat production are set down in Annex III, Section III of Retained EU Regulation 853/2004. 

In general terms, the requirements for farmed game mirror that of fresh meat in Section I of Regulation 853/2004 other than for specific matters relating to ante mortem inspection and handling on farm. 

Food business operators may slaughter farmed game at the place of origin with the authorisation of the competent authority if: 

• The animals cannot be transported, to avoid any risk for the handler or to protect the welfare of the animals; 
• The herd undergoes regular veterinary inspection; 
• The owner of the animals submits a request; 
• The competent authority is informed in advance of the date and time of slaughter of the animals; 
• The holding has procedures for concentrating the animals to allow an ante-mortem inspection of the group to be made; 
• The holding has facilities suitable for the slaughter, bleeding and, where ratites (ie flightless birds) are to be plucked, plucking of the animals; 
• Animal welfare requirements are complied with; 
• Slaughtered and bled animals are transported to the slaughterhouse hygienically and without undue delay. If transport takes more than two hours, the animals are, if necessary, refrigerated. Evisceration may take place on the spot, under the supervision of the veterinarian; 
• A declaration by the food business operator who reared the animals, stating their identity and indicating any veterinary products or other treatments administered, dates of administration and withdrawal periods, accompanies the slaughtered animals to the slaughterhouse; 
• During transport to the approved establishment, a certificate issued and signed by the official veterinarian or approved veterinarian, attesting to a favourable result of the ante-mortem inspection, correct slaughter and bleeding and the date and time of slaughter, accompanies the slaughtered animals.