# The Specified Risk Material Regulations 1997, Regulation 15: Prohibition on the removal of the spinal cord of a ruminant animal


(1) No person shall remove the spinal cord or any part of it from the vertebral column of a sheep or goat in which there was at least one permanent incisor tooth erupted or which was aged over 12 months at the date of slaughter, except—
(a) in an authorised slaughterhouse or at authorised cutting premises by—
(i) longitudinally splitting the whole vertebral column; or
(ii) removing a longitudinal section of the whole vertebral column containing the spinal cord; or
(b) in premises referred to in regulation 5(3)(a) for the purposes of veterinary or scientific examination.
(2) No person shall remove the spinal cord or any part of it from the vertebral column of a bovine animal aged six months or more, or longitudinally split the vertebral column of such an animal, except—
(a) in a slaughterhouse; or
(b) in premises referred to in regulation 5(3)(a) for the purposes of veterinary or scientific examination.
(3) Where a carcase or bone-in carcase meat is consigned to a slaughterhouse or cutting premises in accordance with regulation 10(2) above the occupier of that slaughterhouse or cutting premises shall ensure that the spinal cord is removed from the rest of the carcase.
(4) The occupier of a slaughterhouse or cutting premises shall permit an inspector or official veterinary surgeon, or a person acting under the responsibility of either of them, to inspect the carcase of any sheep or goat consigned there so that he can check whether the specified risk material has been removed from the carcase in accordance with these Regulations; and the occupier shall give to any such person such reasonable assistance as he shall require.
(5) If the spinal cord is removed in a slaughterhouse or at cutting premises, the occupier shall ensure that it is stained in accordance with regulation 10(3) above, and disposed of as specified risk material in accordance with these Regulations.
(6) If the spinal cord is removed at any premises other than a slaughterhouse or cutting premises for the purposes of veterinary or scientific examination, after that examination both the spinal cord and the vertebral column shall be stained blue and disposed of as specified risk material in accordance with these Regulations.
(7) The Minister may, on an application made to him under this regulation, authorise any licensed slaughterhouse or licensed cutting premises for the purposes of this regulation.
(8) In considering applications for authorisation for the purposes of this regulation the Minister may (in addition to any other relevant matters) have regard to the need for the efficient enforcement of this regulation.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2965/regulation/15 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/specified-risk-material-regulations-1997/regulation-15
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.