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Animal Products Act 1999

June 2008

Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Prisons

Introduction

NZFSA is aware that some institutions, such as prisons, educational facilities and hospitals, have farms associated with them. This information is to clarify the law with respect to the use and consumption of animal material (e.g. meat) that comes directly from these farms.

The slaughter and butchering of animals for the direct use or consumption of the meat, when that animal has not been processed in the regulated system, is called homekill. As homekill meat has not been subject to any hygiene or processing standards or controls, or any assessment, no assurances can be given on the safety of the product. For this reason, there are strict rules governing the use and consumption of homekill meat.

The Animal Products Act 1999 specifically prohibits homekill meat being supplied to staff, residents, patients, students etc, under a statutory arrangement, or under an inclusive charge for another good or service. This is the case even where there are slaughtering facilities on the property.

Institutions can arrange for their animals to be processed in the regulated system, e.g. by a premises operating a registered risk management programme for the slaughter and dressing of animals, and have the resultant product returned to them for supply to residents, staff etc. If an institution wishes to use its own slaughtering facilities, these would be required to have a risk management programme (under Part 2 of the Animal Products Act); the resulting product would be regulated product.

For further information, visit the Animal Products website, http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/animalproducts/index.htm or phone (04) 894 2500