Regulation 20 Slaughterhouses and private kills

The operator of a licensed slaughterhouse shall ensure that only cattle accompanied by a valid cattle passport are slaughtered for human consumption at the slaughterhouse.

On arrival at a licensed slaughterhouse, the keeper of the animals shall give the cattle passport for each animal to the operator of the slaughterhouse.

If an animal arrives at a licensed slaughterhouse without a valid cattle passport or with the wrong cattle passport, it shall not be moved from the slaughterhouse except under the authority of a licence granted by the official veterinary surgeon or his representative.

If an animal without a valid cattle passport is slaughtered in a licensed slaughterhouse, the operator of the slaughterhouse shall identify the carcase as an animal by-product in accordance with the Animal By-Products (Identification) Regulations 1995 and dispose of it in accordance with the Animal By-Products Order 1992. However, if the cattle passport is not valid only because it has not been signed by the last keeper, the carcase may be sent for human consumption if the keeper or his agent signs the cattle passport within 7 days of slaughter.

No person shall slaughter an animal for human consumption outside a licensed slaughterhouse unless the animal has a valid cattle passport.

Any person who fails to comply with any provision of this regulation shall be guilty of an offence.