Ante-mortem Inspection (AMI)

What is AMI?

Inspection before slaughter by an OV and is a legal requirement

What is the purpose of AMI?

Checks for - Public health, Fitness for consumption, Animal welfare, Visible signs of drug treatment

What are some of the advantages of AMI?

Segregation of stock, can direction PMI, disease evaluation, welfare, cleanliness, residues

What are the limitations of AMI?

Useful diagnostic information not available, time/cost factors prevent full disease investigation, time in lairage

What are the requirement for AMI?

ID of animals (batch and individual), Good facilities, co-operative lairage staff, equipment

What is the responsibility of a FBO in an AMI?

ID (batch and individual), Food chain information (farm), not from areas under disease control, clean livestock policy, healthy status, welfare status, communicate to OV at any exceptional event

What is the responsibility of the OV at AMI?

All animals inspected, antemortem judgement, 24h > slaughter < 24h, valid for 24 hours and done anytime OV deems necessary

What regulation lays out the responsibility of the FBO?

EC 853/2004 (H2)

What regulation lays out the responsibility of the OV?

EC 2017/625, 2019/627

What should be inspected during the observation/inspection step in AMIs?

Rest and in motion, assess behavior, inspect condition, judge state of cleanliness, assess for signs of disease/abnormality, and assess welfare

What would be included in a clinical examination if deemed necessary during an AMI?

Locomotor, Respiratory, GI system, Skin/sensory investigation, urogenital, neurological, and general check

When would an inspection be best done during an AMI procedure?

During unloading

When would it be best to do a clinical exam as part of an AMI?

Best done at rest, after unloading

What is the first step of AMI?

Observations best done at unloading and at rest (except poultry)

What is the next step of AMI if any abnormalities are seen?

Clinical examination of animals separated in lairage

Can you do a full AMI prior to getting to the abattoir?

Yes, but must be accompanied by a health certificate

Which species can have AMI on farm done by OV if accompanied by a health certifcation

all species

What must happen when animals reach the abattoir if a full AMI was done on farm?

ID check and welfare at transport

Who can do an ID check and welfare check at the abattoir after an on farm AMI?

official auxiliary

What are the requirements for a vet carrying out AMI on farm?

full appointed OV by FSA/FSS or specifically appointed for the purpose at the holding provenance

What does AMI include at the holding provenance?

inspection at holding provenance of animals instead for slaughter at slaughterhouse

inspection of poultry where holding is authorized for on farm slaughter

inspection of farmed game where holid is authorized for on farm slaughter

In Scotland is there interest in having AMI at the holding provenance?

No

What are the types of On-Farm Slaughter?

Emergency, Home, Approved Farm, Poultry and Lagomorph (direct sales)

When is on farm slaughter for emergencies allowed?

a healthy animal that has suffered an accident that prevented its transport to the slaughterhouse for welfare reasons

What must happen before an emergency on farm slaughter?

AMI with declaration by veterinary surgeon and owner of animal

What is home slaughter on farm considered?

slaughter by the owner on their property for their personal consumption or that of members of immediate family living there

What regulations DO NOT apply for home slaughter on farm?

EU food hygiene regulations

What regulations DO apply for home slaughter on farm?

WATOK, TSE, and ABP regulations

What is an approved on farm, farm slaughter facility only for?

slaughter of ratites and farmed game at authorized on farm slaughter facilities (OFSF)

slaughter at the farm of poultry reared to produced “foie gras”

slaughter at the farm of poultry subjected to delayed evisceration

What is the responsibility of an FBO on an approved on farm, farm slaughter facility?

must have an on farm facility authorization

meet requirements for animal welfare

require an OV/AV to carry out ante mortem inspection

have a person available with a Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) licence to carry out the slaughter and bleeding of animals

What must occur on an approved on farm, farm slaughter facility after slaughter?

consign with appropriate health certificate, to a suitably approved slaughter house or hame handling establishment for dressing for PMI

What is required for direct sales of poultry/lagomorphs by the primary producer?

CoC (certification of competency), registration with local authority, HACCP plan, correct labeling, record keeping

What must the Food Chain Information (FCI) enable the FBO to do?

Ensure hygienic slaughter conditions, minimize cross contamination during the production process and reduce risk for the consumers

What must the Food Chain Information (FCI) enable the OV to do?

properly assess the health, welfare and inspection requirements of the animals intended for slaughter

What must be requested and checked by the FBO at the slaughterhouse?

FCI for every animal

What outlines the FBO’s responsibility regarding the FCI?

EC 853/2004

What must be provided by the FBO at the place of origin outlined by EC 852/2004?

FCI

What are the requirements of a FCI?

must be provided to OV no more than 24 hours before arrival, must take in account for AMI and PMI, must accompany animal in cases of emergency slaughter

What is the minimum information on a FCI for all species? (8)

name of producer, address and holding number of farm of origin, herd/flock health status, individual status, disease that might affect meat, details of recent vet medicines (with withdrawals), any relevant test results (including previous AMI/PMI) and name and adsress of private veterinary surgeon

What does a FCI need to include for poultry, not including the minimum requirements?

statutory salmonella testing (Flocks >2000, performed within 3 weeks of slaughter or 6 weeks if organic)

the welfare of farmed animals (scotland) regulations 2010 (mortality rate if flocks have stocking density >33kg/m2 and number of chickens DOA)

What does a FCI need to include for pigs, not including the minimum requirements?

details of production system (controlled housing vs outdoor reared - trichinella testing for outdoors)

What does a FCI need to include for horses, not including the minimum requirements?

a valid passport with section IX NOT being signed

What is CCIR?

Collection and Communication of Inspection Results

What does CCIR contain?

valuable information for farmer and private vet (improve animal health and food safety)

problems relating to production must be reported back to producer

disease affecting public/animal health and welfare issues must be reported to slaughterhouse FBO

What conditions must the inspection results from AMI and PMI comply with?

reflect current animal health, public health and animal welfare conditions (objective)

should be supported by personal reports by OV in some cases

Antemortem data must be linked directly to postmortem data

AMI Judgements: Fit for Consumption definition

animals must be healthy

animal welfare must not be compromised

animals must be clean

animals must be identifiable

How long does a farmer have to correct/provide a correct passport for cattle?

Within 48 hours

AMI Judgements: Unfit for Consumption definition

animals showing signs of disease, poor welfare and evidence of veterinary medicines

FCI not provided, FCI not complete, FCI incorrect, FCI does not indicate salmonella test (poultry)

AMI Judgements: Unfit for Consumption what happens?

animals cannot be returned to their place of origin, animal killed and rejected

What is the action if the FCI is not provided?

hold animal for up to 24 hours pending provision

slaughter and detain carcass + offal pending provision (withhold health mark)

What is the judgement if the FCI is not provided?

if >24 hours of arrival - Reject the carcass (not fit for consumption)

What is the action if the FCI incorrect/incomplete?

Contact FBO and request return to slaughterhouse to complete new __ or provide new __

as above treatment of animal

report to APHA if appropriate

What is the judgement if the FCI incorrect/incomplete?

if >24 hours of arrival - Reject the carcass (not fit for consumption)

What is the action if the FCI does not include salmonella testing results or testing not within correct time frame (poultry only)?

make enquires with producer

What is the judgement if the FCI does not include salmonella testing results or testing not within correct time frame (poultry only)?

results available = slaughter (fit for consumption)

not tested and still on farm = report to APHA

not tested but at abattoir = slaughter as high risk