Amendment 9: Manual 16

8 July 2008

1 Background

With the goal of reducing dissemination of food-borne zoonoses without affecting the ability to detect conditions of public health importance, NZFSA has assessed the post mortem examination requirements for bobby calf carcasses. This assessment has resulted in the following changes:

1.1 Remove the palpation requirements for bobby calf carcass examination. This means the external surfaces, joints, umbilicus, thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities, and exposed carcass lymph nodes are viewed for carcass examination only.

Viewing of the required surfaces of the carcass may require manipulation of the carcass, e.g. holding open the abdominal cavity to assist viewing, lifting the forelegs to view the ventral surface of the neck, moving the tail to view the pelvic cavity.

1.2 Head examination of bobby calves will continue as per Technical Directive 03/165: “Inspection procedures for the head and head meats of cattle (including calves)” in the interim period pending implementation of Meat Code of Practice Part 2 Chapter 7 Post Mortem Examination.

1.3 The standard for presentation of bobby calves for examination has changed by requiring the diaphragm to be presented on the viscera table for examination, and the diaphragm must be removed as much as possible from the carcass to facilitate viewing of the thoracic cavity.

1.4 Examination of viscera remains unchanged.

2 Amendment Details

2.1 Manual 16, Appendix 2 is amended by deleting the words ‘Standards for Presentation to Inspector’ and inserting the words ‘Standards for Presentation to Inspector (all species other than bobby calves)’.

The following table is to be inserted at the end of Appendix 2:

Presentation standards for bobby calf examination:
	Must	May	Must not
Kidney	Enucleate.	Separate from carcass.	Remove or incise prior to examination. However, a superficial nick in the cortex of the kidneys is acceptable.
Heart		Separate from lungs.
Liver		Separate from viscera.
Spleen		Separate from viscera.
Diaphragm	Separate from carcass, as near to its attachments to the carcass wall as possible.
Lymph nodes
Carcass		Trim contamination prior to examination.	Trim pathology prior to examination.
Head	As per TD 03/165.
Animal Tissues	Ensure all relevant animal tissues are identified to one animal until final examination unless there is an approved batch disposition programme for the unidentified tissues.		Remove edible parts prior to final examination unless there is an approved batch disposition programme for those tissues.

2.2 Major alterations/changes to Manual 16 appendix 3 Inspection table and associated notes table are highlighted in the text of the amendment.

2.3 Please sign off and date the Amendment Record, and file this update letter in the back of your publication for quick reference.

2.4 The following table summarises the amendments:

Remove section(s)	Insert new section(s)
	Add additional table into Appendix 2
Appendix 3	Appendix 3

3 Implementation

3.1 This amendment is effective from the date of signing.

3.2 Affected parties (operators and AsureQuality) have two calendar weeks to implement this amendment from either:

a. the date of signing; or

b. in the case of those operators that have not commenced bobby calf slaughter at the date of signing, the operators’ first day of bobby calf slaughter in the 2008 season.

The date of implementation should be agreed on a site-by-site basis between operators, AsureQuality and NZFSA Verification Agency.

Amendment authorised by:

[signed]

Judy Barker

Assistant Director
New Zealand Standards
New Zealand Food Safety Authority

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