{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/fresh-meat-export-hygiene-and-inspection-regulations-1987/schedule-8/part-II/paragraph-1",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/fresh-meat-export-hygiene-and-inspection-regulations-1987/schedule-8/part-II/paragraph-1.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1987/2237",
  "legislation_title": "The Fresh Meat Export (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1987",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/fresh-meat-export-hygiene-and-inspection-regulations-1987",
  "path": "schedule/8/part/II/paragraph/1",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "1",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "In the case of bovine animals over six weeks old the inspection shall include—\n(a) visual examination of the head and throat; the submaxillary, retro-pharyngeal and parotid lymph nodes shall be examined in detail; examination of the external (masseter) cheek muscles in which two deep incisions shall be made and the internal (pterygoid) cheek muscles in which at least one deep incision shall be made; all incisions shall be made parallel to the mandible from its upper muscular insertion; visual examination and palpation of the tongue, having been freed to permit a detailed visual examination of the mouth and fauces;\n(b) visual examination of the trachea, lungs and oesophagus; palpation of the lungs and oesophagus; the bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes shall be examined in detail; where the lungs are intended for human consumption the trachea and the main branches of the bronchi shall be opened lengthwise and the lungs shall be incised in their posterior third at right angles to their main axes;\n(c) visual examintion of the pericardium and the heart; the latter shall be incised lengthwise so as to open the ventricles and to cut through the intraventricular septum;\n(d) visual examination of the diaphragm;\n(e) visual examination and palpation of the liver, the hepatic and pancreatic lymph nodes; the gastric surface of the liver and the base of the caudate lobe shall be incised to examine the bile ducts;\n(f) visual examination of the alimentary tract, the mesentery, the gastric and mesenteric lymph nodes; the gastric and mesenteric lymph nodes shall be palpated and, where an authorised officer of the Council considers it necessary, examined in detail;\n(g) visual examination and palpation of the spleen;\n(h) visual examination of the kidneys and, where an authorised officer of the Council considers it necessary, incision of the kidneys and examination in detail of the renal lymph nodes;\n(i) visual examination of the pleura and peritoneum;\n(j) visual examination of the genital organs;\n(k) visual examination and, where an authorised officer of the Council considers it necessary, palpation and incision of the udder of a cow and its lymph nodes; where the udder is intended for human consumption each half of it shall be opened by a long deep incision as far as the lactiferous sinuses and its lymph nodes shall be examined in detail; such incisions shall be carried out in such a way that they may not contaminate meat.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1987/2237/schedule/8/part/II/paragraph/1",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T16:14:06.171251+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}