(i) be mixed with the other ingredients as soon as practically possible; in that event the time during which the temperature of the meat products is between 10ºC and 60ºC shall not exceed two hours,
(ii) be refrigerated to 10ºC or less before being mixed with the other ingredients, or
(iii) be cooled and mixed with the other ingredients in such a way (to be specified in the approval document for the establishment concerned) that the time during which the temperature of the meat product is between 10ºC and 60ºC is kept to a minimum.
The Meat Products (Hygiene) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000 come into force on 30 March 2000. The amended Regulations will continue to safeguard public health by providing standards for the hygienic manufacture of meat based prepared meals.
Guidance on how food authorities and others enforcing the Meat Products Regulations (such as the Meat Hygiene Service) should interpret the requirements of the new Regulations has been issued, with a copy of the new Regulations, to local authorities and others with a role in enforcing the Meat Products Regulations.
The Meat Products (Hygiene) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000 implement a flexibility in Article 1.15 of Directive 95/68/EC on health problems affecting the production and marketing of meat products and certain other products of animal origin. The flexibility allows Member States to use other preparation methods for the manufacture of meat based prepared meals providing, that is, that these other methods of preparation are approved by the competent authority.
A meat based prepared meal is a wrapped meat product (excluding sandwiches or products made with pastry, pasta or dough) in which meat has been mixed with other foodstuffs before, during or after cooking and requires refrigeration for preservation. Examples will include roast meat dishes with vegetables; and traditional cottage pies (minced meat with potato).
The Meat Products (Hygiene) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000 will apply to England only. Separate Regulations will be required for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.