Regulation 4 Approval of premises

(1)

No person shall use any premises for the production of minced meat or meat preparations intended for consignment or sale for consignment to a relevant EEA State for human consumption unless those premises are approved under this regulation and comply with the appropriate requirements of the Schedules to these Regulations.

(2)

Subject to paragraph (3) below, on an application made to it under this regulation the approval authority shall approve the premises to which the application relates—

(a)

where the premises are licensed premises or premises approved under the Meat Products Regulations—

(i)

for the production of minced meat if it is satisfied that the requirements of Schedule 1 are met; and

(ii)

for the production of meat preparations if it is satisfied that the requirements of Schedule 2 are met; or

(b)

where the premises are independent premises, for the production of minced meat and meat preparations if it is satisfied that the requirements of Schedule 3 are met,

and shall refuse so to approve those premises if it is not so satisfied.

(3)

In the case of non-industrial premises the following derogations from the structural requirements for premises shall apply—

(a)

taps near work stations may be hand-operable;

(b)

an adequate number of lockers will suffice in place of changing rooms; and

(c)

the manufacture and wrapping of meat preparations may take place in the same room, provided that—

(i)

those operations constitute a single production cycle complying with the requirements of these Regulations and guaranteeing the safety of the raw materials and finished products; and

(ii)

the design and dimensions of the room so allow.

(4)

Each application for approval under this regulation shall be made in writing by the occupier of, or a person proposing to occupy, the premises to which the application relates.

(5)

Any premises approved under this regulation shall be allocated an approval number.

(6)

The approval authority shall notify the applicant in writing of its decision on an application under this regulation and of the reasons for any refusal to grant approval.