In Belgium, the FASFC has published a circular on visual meat inspection of young cattle, young small ruminants, solipeds and pigs. The letter contains a risk assessment and conditions to be observed to allow such inspection.
All animals undergo AM (live inspection) and PM (meat inspection) inspections at the slaughterhouse. The primary purpose of these inspections is to ensure food safety. During the inspections, the veterinarian looks for anatomopathological abnormalities or anomalies. In addition, animal health aspects (animal diseases) and animal welfare checks are also performed through the inspection. Animal welfare inspections are not performed by the FASFC itself, but are carried out under the authority of the regional authorities.
EFSA's scientific opinion on the review of pig meat inspection states that the main health risks are biological. These include in particular: Salmonella spp, Yersinia enterocolitica, Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp.
Therefore, the FASFC Scientific Committee decided to replace the traditional meat inspection (with incisions) with a visual inspection for young cattle, young small ruminants and solipeds.
From a food safety perspective, the disadvantage of slightly less sensitive detection of lesions during meat inspection does not outweigh the advantage of reduced cross-contamination on the slaughter line. It is emphasised that a well-executed meat inspection is and remains an important tool in animal and public health surveillance and the detection of newly emerging (epidemic) animal diseases.
However, the Committee believes that visual inspection alone can also achieve these objectives. Because incisions can lead to the further spread of pre-existing microbiological contamination, the standard inspection is now a visual post-mortem inspection in young bovine animals, young small ruminants, solipeds and pigs in the European Union. This does need to follow some basic requirements and take into account the age limit of young cattle and young small ruminants. Otherwise, and in the case of abnormal carcasses, the extended classical inspection will have to be carried out.
Source: 20220225_clean_NL_v3_ob_approval_young_rund_small_ruminant_a_pig.pdf (favv-afsca.be)
