A. Ante-mortem inspection

The competent authority may decide that pigs intended for slaughter are to be submitted to ante-mortem inspection at the holding of provenance. In that case, slaughter of a lot of pigs from a holding may be authorised only if: the health certificate provided for in Chapter X, Part A, accompanies them; and the requirements of paragraphs 2 to 5 are complied with. Ante-mortem inspection at the holding of provenance is to comprise: checks on records or documentation at the holding, including food chain information; the examination of the pigs to determine whether: they have a disease or condition which may be transmitted to animals or humans through handling or eating the meat, or are behaving, individually or collectively, in a manner indicating that such a disease may occur, they show disturbance of general behaviour or signs of disease which may make the meat unfit for human consumption, or there is evidence or reasons to suspect that they may contain chemical residues in excess of the levels laid down in Community legislation, or residues of forbidden substances. An official veterinarian or an approved veterinarian is to carry out ante-mortem inspection at the holding. The pigs are to be sent directly to slaughter and not to be mixed with other pigs. Ante-mortem inspection at the slaughterhouse need cover only: a control of the animals' identification; and a screening to ascertain whether animal welfare rules have been complied with and whether signs of any condition which might adversely affect human or animal health are present. An official auxiliary may carry out this screening. When pigs are not slaughtered within three days of the issue of the health certificate provided for in paragraph 1(a): if the pigs have not left the holding of provenance for the slaughterhouse, they are to be re-examined and a new health certificate issued; if the pigs are already en route for or at the slaughterhouse, slaughter may be authorised once the reason for the delay has been assessed, provided that the pigs undergo a further veterinary ante-mortem inspection.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-04 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.