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• Part I : Meat, Game and Game Meat Monitoring Services
  • 17.1 Introduction
  • 17.2 Regular Surveillance for Pesticides
  • 17.3 Lindane Permit Holders
  • 17.4 Heavy Metals, Antibiotics, Hormones and Drugs
  • 17.5 Residue Testing Suspect List
  • 17.6 Injection or Suspect Injection Site Lesions

Part I : Meat, Game and Game Meat Monitoring Services

17.1 Introduction

17.1.1 Monitoring of flesh products is carried out by MAF between 1 January and 31 December each year, to determine the level of residues present in these products, and their bacteriological/microbiological status.

17.1.2 The purpose is to:

- ensure the product is safe for human consumption
- enable traceback procedures to remove sources of contamination
- ensure that if correctly stored the product will have an acceptable shelf life
- meet overseas requirements.

17.1.3 Samples required for regular pesticide surveillance; lindane permit holders; suspect properties; heavy metal, antibiotic, hormone and drug analyses are sent to:

Chemical Residue Laboratory
Wallaceville Animal Research Centre
UPPER HUTT

(Samples for microbiological assay are sent to the local Animal Health laboratory.)

(a) Method of transport for samples:

North Island - By rail, road services, courier or air.
South Island - By Air NZ, Jet-X overnight marked 'Airport Only'.

17.1.4 Report Forms

(a) Forms can be obtained from your Regional Meat Veterinarian, and must be used when submitting samples.

(b) Inspectors are to send one fully completed form to Wallaceville with each batch of samples and retain a duplicate copy at the premises.

(c) Each form must be coded (see below) with the species and type of animal the sample was taken from.

17.2 Regular Surveillance for Pesticides:

17.2.1 For regular surveillance, fat samples are required as follows:

- take kidney fat; if insufficient, then some omental fat may be added
- do not sample connective tissue
- place the sample in a plastic bag
- the plastic bags used must always be stored in a closed container to prevent possible contamination, e.g. from fly sprays.
- fat may be collected from other farmed deer, from the same farm, to reach the required weight.

17.2.2 Fat Sample Size:

Bobby Calves All other species

100 g 50 g

17.2.3 Frequency of Collection:

When the particular class and species required for sampling are being killed, one sample per week of each of the following is required from every export slaughterhouse (MEs and DSPs) and Packing Houses (game).

(i) Lamb
(ii) Sheep
( iii) Dairy Cows
(iv) Other cattle - The type of animal sampled (i.e. prime beef, vealer or bull) should be varied where possible each week.
(v) Pig
(vi) Goat (10 samples/week)
(vii ) Bobby calf (5 samples/week from different pools)
(viii) Game (PH) - 2 samples from each game species per week
(ix) Gamed deer (DSP) - 1 sample from each deer species per week

17.2.4 Identification:

(a) A sample is to be taken from one animal in a line. The number of animals in the line is to be recorded.

(b) The sample is to be carefully identified with:

the name and initials of the owner of the stock and the full address. In the case of a firm include the address of the farm of origin.

These must be correct in every detail. (This should be checked with the company stock department as truck advice slips are frequently incomplete).

(c) The information is essential to enable accurate traceback by field service

(d) In the case of bobby calves the name of the calf pool is sufficient identification.

17.2.5 Labelling and Packaging

(a) Each individual fat sample must be identified by means of a standard buff label showing the owner's name, initials, and address.

(b) The label must also show the premises number with the reference number of the sample collected, e.g. ME 16 A1
X1 etc.

(c) All individually identified samples are to be placed in a large plastic bag. A standard buff label stating the premises number and the reference numbers of the samples enclosed (e.g. ME 13 A1-A5) must be attached/tied to the large plastic bag.

17.2.6 Report Forms:

(a) A white AgM.154 form is to be used for fat samples sent in the week. Ensure all forms are completed correctly.

(b) The report form, must be sent in the same parcel as the samples, placed in a separate plastic bag, sealed, and attached to the large plastic bag containing the fat samples.

(c) Information regarding owner's name, initials and address, together with the date of sampling are to be recorded in a book kept in the premises for reference and traceback.

17.2.7 Storage and Despatch of Samples:

(a) All samples are to be frozen and despatched to Wallaceville on the first day of each week.

(b) Samples are to be sent even if only one sample has been collected during the week (i.e. only one class of stock killed during the week).

(c) Samples are to be packed in any suitable cardboard box (e.g. empty label carton) or meat monitoring box (if applicable). Do not use Animal Health Laboratory specimen boxes.

17.3 Lindane Permit Holders:

17.3.1 Sampling:

(a) Fat samples are to be taken from stock and deer received from farms on the current Lindane Permit Holders List (see Appendix A - Manual No.10.)

(b) Notification will be received from company management. When the stock clerk books in animals from lindane permit holders he shall inform the yards foreman, then company yards employees can ensure lines are identified at arrival and the information put on the pen card set. Meat Division personnel are to carry out random surveillance checks of Lindane Permit Holder Lists to ensure company management responsibilities are being complied with.

(c) The ante-mortem inspector is responsible for informing the inspector in charge of the killing floor that lindane permit holders stock has been 'Passed for Slaughter' so the necessary sampling arrangements can be made(see 4.21.2(g)(ii) and 4.36.2).

(d) The sample size is as for regular surveillance (17.2.2).

17.3.2 Collection, Identification, Labelling, and Packaging:

(a) One sample is to be taken from every line that is received from a property on the current Lindane Permit Holders List.

(b) Each individually identified sample is to be put into a separate plastic bag and a standard buff label attached. This label is to state the owner's name, initials, and the address, together with the MD reference number of the sample collected.

(c) Lines from lindane permit holder properties are not to be detained.

(d) In the event of insufficient fat per farmed deer, take a pooled sample from other deer from the same farm.

17.3.3 Report Forms:

(a) A blue Ag.M.156 report form is to be used for Lindane Permit Holder List samples.

Ensure all forms are completed correctly.

(Send one copy with all samples, with a maximum of five Permit Holders per form.)

(b) The report form must be sent in the same parcel as the samples, placed in a separate plastic bag, sealed and attached to the plastic bag containing the fat samples.

(c) Information regarding owner's name, initials and address, together with the date of sampling are to be recorded in a book kept in the premises for reference and traceback purposes.

17.3.4 Storage and Despatch of Samples:

Send together with routine samples once a week. Where practicable, use same container.

17.4 Heavy Metals, Antibiotics, Hormones and Drugs:

17.4.1 Purpose:

To obtain survey information on the levels of metals, antibiotics, anthelmintics, sulphonamides, etc. which are occurring throughout the country. Analyses are carried out on kidney liver, muscle or urine.

17.4.2 Sampling: Premises and species/class of stock to be sampled.

Samples are to be collected from the works listed below and from the species/class of stock marked X.

17.4.3 Samples Required:

		Kidney	Liver	Muscle	Urine
	Sheep, Lamb and Goat	1	200 g or 1 whole	200 g from thin or thick skirt	10 ml
	Cattle	½	200 g	200 g	10 ml
	Pig	1	100 g	200 g thick skirt (pillars of diaphragm)	-
	Bobby Calf	1	100 g	200 g thick skirt	-
	Vealers	1	200 g	200 g thick skirt	10 ml
	Farmed deer	1	200 g	200 g	10 ml
	Feral game	1	200 g	200 g	-

All tissue samples, i.e. kidney, liver, from the same animal. Where 200 gm of liver tissue cannot be sampled, then the whole liver is to be submitted.

Kidney and liver tissues in excess of that required for sampling are to be condemned.

17.4.4 Sampling frequency:

(a) Kidney, liver and muscle.

Sheep -	once monthly
Lambs -	once monthly January to September, once weekly October to December.
Dairy Cows -	once weekly.
Vealers -	once fortnightly.
Other Cattle -	once weekly. (Sampling to be varied to include heifers, steers, bulls and prime cows . )
Pigs -	once weekly. (Sampling to be varied to include "porkers", choppers" and baconers".)
Bobby Calves -	weekly. (6 livers, 1 kidney and 1 muscle sample). (Any premises which kill bobby calves and are not listed, are also to send the 6 livers, 1 kidney, and 1 muscle sample per week, when bobby calves are killed.)
Goats -	6 weekly. (Any premises which kill goats and are not listed, are to send six samples of kidney, liver and muscle per week, when goats are killed.)
Farmed Deer -	once weekly (different species each week if possible)
Game -	once weekly (different species each week if possible.)

(b) Urine:

Lamb -	once fortnightly.
Vealers -	once fortnightly.
Prime Beef (heifers and steers only) -	once weekly.
Bulls -	once weekly.
Farmed Deer -	twice weekly (samples to be taken from different line(c) Randomness:- Sampling is to be carried out in as random a manner as possible.

17.4.5 Urine Sampling Procedure:

Wallaceville will supply each premises when requested with vacutainer kits for sampling purposes. The kits comprise one vacutainer and needle and a reusable holder into which the needle screws.

Select the species/class of stock as indicated in 17.4.2 and sample as required in 17.4.4

(a) Separate the sterile vacutainer package and peel apart to a point below the hub of the needle. The package is not to be opened by bending over the needle point.

(b) Screw the needle into the plastic holder. (The needle will remain protected by the plastic needle shield.

(c) Place the vacutainer in the holder and push the tube onto the needle until the top of the "stopper" is even with the guide line shown on the holder.

(d) Remove the needle shield and push the needle into the bladder of the selected carcase.

(e) Complete the puncture of the "vacutainer stopper" by placing a thumb on the end of the tube and two fingers behind the flange of the holder. By pushing with the thumb and pulling with the two fingers the seal of the stopper" will be broken. The vacuum within the tube will then cause urine to flow into the tube.

(f) Collect 1Oml of urine (74mm level on the tube) from each sampled animal wherever possible. If less than 10ml is extracted, then the sample is still to be submitted.

(g) Destroy "used" needles. Retain the plastic needle holder for reuse on the next sample.

(h) Until despatch keep the urine filled vacutainers upright, and cold or frozen. Frozen tubes may crack so they must be checked before packaging. Where cracking occurs the sample is to be either discarded, or packaged within two sealed plastic bags before forwarding to Wallaceville.

17.4.6 Labelling and Packaging:

(a) Kidney, liver and muscle:

Put samples into separate plastic bags and then bulk the samples of kidney, liver and muscle into one bag per animal. Use one standard buff label (per outer bag) showing owner's name, initials, and address, plus the MD reference number.

(b) Urine:

Send the identified urine filled vacutainers to the Chemical Residue Laboratory Wallaceville in the same sample boxes as those containing normal weekly tissue samples. Where possible the tubes are to be packaged in an upright position. Premises are requested to notify Wallaceville in advance, when they only have two weeks supply of vacutainers left. This request is to be conveyed in the weekly sample box to Wallaceville "attached to the lid of the inner sample container". Replacement vacutainers will be sent in return sample boxes. Premises in Hastings region are to obtain their vacutainers from the REV.

17.4.7 Report Forms:

(a) A yellow Ag.M.157 report form is to be used for all samples sent in the week. The relevant detail for each sample submitted is to be included on the report form. Ensure all forms are completed correctly.

(b) The report form must be sent in the same parcel as the samples, placed in a separate plastic bag, sealed, and attached to the large plastic bag containing the samples.

(c) Information regarding the class/species sampled, owner's name, initials and address, together with the date of sampling are to be recorded in a book kept in the premises for reference purposes.

17.4.8 Storage and Despatch

(a) Each sample is to be sealed in its own plastic bag and identified prior to bulking in an outer plastic bag.

(b) Samples must be frozen for storage and despatched on the first day of each week.

(c) The samples are to be sent to Wallaceville in meat monitoring boxes only. (Under no circumstances are uninsulated boxes (eg AHD boxes) to be used.)

For Hastings region, samples are sent as previously arranged.

17.5 Residue Testing Suspect List

17.5.1 The Residue Testing Suspect List is a list of owners/properties from which stock or farmed deer have been found to contain pesticide, agricultural chemical, heavy metal, anabolic, antibiotic or antimicrobial drug residues above the permitted tolerance. Owners/properties remain on the list until stock or farmed deer are shown to be free of residues or with residues within permitted levels, on successive tests.

17.5.2 A property may have all its stock or farmed deer on the suspect list, or, alternatively one or more species only.

17.5.3 (a) The current Residue Testing Suspect List is circulated in MAFCOM format and incorporated as Appendix B in Manual 10, "Chemicals

(b) The inspector in charge in the premises is to ensure company management receive a copy of the updated list. me lists are to be monitored by the company. When the stock clerk books in those species of stock or farmed deer on the residue suspect list (from a residue suspect property) he shall inform the yards foreman.

The company yards employees shall ensure these lines are fully identified at arrival and the information supplied to the ante-mortem inspector.

(c) The ante-mortem inspector is responsible for informing the inspector in charge of the killing floor that residue suspect stock or farmed deer has been 'Passed for Slaughter' so the necessary sampling arrangements can be made.

17.5.4 Head Office may instruct that specific lines which have been grazing in orchards are to be sampled for specific pesticides. Instructions will be sent to MD at the premises where such lines are being sent to for slaughter.

17.5.5 Sample and Size:

Fat, (as for regular surveillance, section 17.2.1 and 17.2.2).

Liver, kidney, muscle (refer section 17.4.3).

17.5.6 Procedure

(a) A sample is to be taken from EVERY animal in all lines of stock or farmed deer of the species specified for that property in the Residue Testing Suspect List.

(Where there is insufficient fat for pesticide analysis in any farmed deer, take 100 g muscle tissue from that deer).

(b) For each animal sampled, kidney and liver tissues in excess of that required for sampling, are to be condemned.

(c) Each sample is to be individually numbered and the same number put on the carcass from which the sample was taken, so that positive identification can be maintained.

(d) Other products intended to be saved for human consumption (eg. heart, tongue, brain, pancreas, thymus, spleen, testicles, paunch, intestines etc) must be either positively identified with the carcase and retained pending the results from Wallaceville, or condemned.

(e) The carcasses must be polythene bagged.

(f) All carcasses are to be retained until the results of the tests are known and disposition of the carcass advised.

(g) Detained carcasses are to be stored together, but separate from passed carcasses (e.g. separate bin).

(h) Beef carcasses may be boned out under Meat Division supervision for storage in plain cartons.

(i) Head Office (MD) will notify results to the Supervising Veterinarian concerned.

(j) Disposition of carcasses and other retained product will be decided appropriate to individual test results.

17.5.7 Labelling and Packaging:

(a) Each sample collected is to be placed in a separate plastic bag and identified with a buff label.

(b) The sample number must be the same as the number on the corresponding carcass.

(c) All individually identified bagged samples are to be placed in a larger plastic bag BUT the maximum is 10 samples per outer bag.

(d) A 'green crossed' buff label showing the reference numbers of the samples enclosed must be on the outside of the bulk bag. (Cross both sides of the label, using a green felt pen, with the cross extending to the corners of the label.

(e) Samples are to be put into outer bags in numerical order:

e.g. Line of 25 samples in 3 bags carrying the numbers 1-10, 11-20, 21-25.

(f) Suspect list samples are NOT to be sent in the same parcel as regular test samples, or lindane permit holder samples.

(g) Telegraph, telephone or MAFCOM the Wallaceville laboratory in advance of despatch of suspect samples.

17.5.8 Suspect List Report Forms:

(a) A green Ag.M.155 report form is to be used for all Suspect List samples sent to Wallaceville. Ensure all forms are completed correctly.

(b) The report form must be sent in the same parcel as the samples, placed in a separate plastic bag, sealed and attached to the plastic bag containing the samples.

(c) Information regarding the class/species sampled and retained, the tissue sampled and suspect residue, together with the owner's name, initials and address are to be recorded in a book kept in the premises for reference and traceback purposes.

17.5.9 Storage and Despatch of Suspect List Samples:

(a) Despatch samples as soon as practicable after collection.

Samples collected on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are to be chilled or frozen and dispatched to Wallaceville no later than the Wednesday.

Samples collected on Thursday, Friday or Saturday are to be frozen and forwarded on the Monday. Alternative arrangements may only be made after agreement with the Chemical Residue Section, Wallaceville (Phone 286-089 Wellington).

(b) A 'green-crossed' buff label must be affixed to the outside of the box or parcel. (This is for ease of identification by Wallaceville.)

TO REITERATE: Suspect test samples must NOT be sent in the same parcel as regular or lindane permit holder test samples.

17.6 Injection or Suspect Injection Site

17.6.1 When an injection site lesion is suspected in any bovine, porcine or cervine carcass or carcass meat, send 20-50gm of muscle surrounding the lesion, in addition to the lesion itself, to Wallaceville. Only the muscle tissue directly surrounding the lesion is to be forwarded where the lesion is large and purulent.

17.6.2 When an injection site lesion is obtained from an animal on the chain, other samples required include kidney and liver tissue from the same carcass (refer section 17.4.3.). Kidney and liver tissues in excess of that required for sampling are to be condemned. Other products (eg. offals) intended to be saved for human consumption from the sampled animal may either be positively identified with the retained carcass and retained pending the results from Wallaceville, or condemned.

17.6.3 When a large number of ovine or caprine animals in a line show injection lesions, the injection site lesions and surrounding muscle tissue of approximately 10 of the affected animals in the line, are to be forwarded to Wallaceville for analysis. Carcasses in the line and their associated offals may be saved for human consumption once the suspect lesions have been trimmed from the carcasses and condemned.

17.6.4 Except for lines of ovine or caprine animals showing lesions all carcasses or meat derived from carcasses affected with a suspect injection lesion are to be positively identified and retained pending laboratory results and instructions on disposition.

17.6.5 Labelling and Packaging:

(a) Put samples into separate labelled plastic bags (refer section 17.4.6) and then bulk the samples of kidney, liver and muscle into one identified bag per animal.

(b) Pack the samples into any suitable cardboard or meat monitoring box.

(c) Samples are not to be sent in the same parcel as regular test samples, or lindane permit holder samples.

(d) A 'green-crossed' buff fable endorsed 'ISL' (meaning 'injection site lesion') is to be affixed to the outside of the despatch box.

17.6.6 Report Forms:

(a) A green Ag.M.155 report form is to be used for suspect injection site lesions. The anatomical position of the lesion in the carcass is to be specified, in addition to whether other lesions were detected in that carcass. In lines of animals, the approximate site on the carcass where the majority of lesions were found is to be noted, together with the proportion of affected to unaffected carcasses in the line.

Where possible an "informed suggestion" as to the etiology of the lesions is to be made. Ensure all forms are completed correctly.

(b) The report form must be sent in the same parcel as the sample, placed in a separate plastic bag, sealed, and attached to the plastic bag containing the sample.

(c) Information regarding the class/species sampled and retained, and the owner's name, initials and address are to be recorded in a book kept in the premises for reference and traceback purposes.

17.6.7 Storage and Despatch

(a) Samples are to be despatched as soon as practicable after collection (refer section 17.5.9).

(b) Submission forms for suspect injection site lesions are to contain the species name and the animal type code where known. (When applicable the form is to be endorsed in the name and address section, 'found in boning room'.)

(c) The Inspector in Charge is to notify the Chemical Residue Laboratory by MAFCOM, telephone or telegram, of samples in transit and the expected time of arrival at Wallaceville.