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Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984)

Notices

Control Measures relating to Outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease

Part C: Options to continue Farming Activities on Infected Premises

16. Controlled Slaughter

 

16.1 Controlled slaughter covers the period from Day 16 to Day 42 after Day Zero.

 

16.2 Once Day Zero has been confirmed, a request can be sent to the state veterinarian for permission to start controlled slaughter. Abattoir owners must agree in writing that they will accept animals from FMD-quarantined premises. Movements from quarantined farms to the abattoirs must be done with red cross permits or equivalent auditable system (see 14.3.1).

 

16.3 If it is possible to keep groups of animals as separate units with no nose-to-nose contact, animals can be sorted according to slaughter-readiness and clinical picture. For example, animals that were clinically affected and that have recovered can be separated and considered for the next slaughter group, within the time frames provided hereunder.

 

16.4 Animals must be clinically healthy when they go for controlled slaughter, and there must be no indication of fresh clinical signs of FMD for at least 16 days after Day Zero on the premises or in the group isolated for slaughter.

 

16.5 Where vaccination to slaughter is done, the withdrawal period of the vaccine used must be considered when animals are sent for slaughter.

 

16.6 Slaughter of livestock after Day 0:
16.6.1 No slaughter is allowed before day 16 post Day Zero.
16.6.2 From Day 16: Slaughter may only take place at FMD-designated abattoirs. No deboning, de-glanding, or further processing or destruction of the tongue or offal is required. Heads and feet must be disposed of/treated from Day 16 to Day 41 post Day Zero.
16.6.3 From six weeks (42 days) after Day Zero, slaughter from quarantined premises can take place at any abattoir including an export abattoir. No deboning, further processing or destruction of any part of the carcass is required.

 

16.7 Request to resume slaughter at abattoir located on infected farm/feedlot:
16.7.1 The owner of the abattoir must agree to limit the number of animals slaughtered per day to ensure that no animals remain overnight. An SOP for cleaning and disinfection of the truck(s) delivering animals and collecting carcasses must be drafted by the owner and approved by the SV. Measures will only become auditable once slaughtering can commence, but the client must give written commitment to continue adhering to these measures.
16.7.2 The abattoir must be registered for the slaughter of the species involved in terms of the Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act No 40 of 2000) and comply with these requirements.

 

16.8 Requirements for farms under quarantine for FMD seeking permission to slaughter animals at FMD-designated abattoirs:
16.8.1 The owner of the farm must apply in writing in the prescribed format describing the animals to be slaughtered.
16.8.2 Day 0 for the farm must be determined by the state veterinarian (refer to 15.2).
16.8.3 There must be facilities to safely dispose of any condemned material, including FMD risk material (heads and feet), OR an arrangement must be in place for the safe disposal of such materials at another establishment, under cover of red-cross veterinary movement permits.
16.8.4 The abattoir, any processing areas and the disposal site must be securely fenced to ensure that access control can be effectively implemented.
16.8.5 There must be written approval from the relevant Environmental Affairs regulatory body for the disposal of the risk materials on the premises or at the designated disposal site.

 

16.9 A ZA registered (if applicable) abattoir may slaughter animals from FMD-quarantined farms, provided:

16.9.1

(a) the importing country/s expressly agree to receive meat from farms under restriction due to FMD, or
(b) the owner of the abattoir can demonstrate clear separation of slaughter activities from infected and non-infected farms to the satisfaction of the National Director of Animal Health, based on recommendation by the provincial Veterinary Services.
16.9.2 Comply with clauses 16.8.2, 16.8.3, 16.8.4, 16.8.5.