The Forward programmes were drawn up by Government and industry representatives. They outline a number of steps which the industry can take to ensure consistently high hygiene standards. The main recommendations are to implement HACCP in slaughterhouses on a voluntary basis, to have an industry-wide hygiene training and certification scheme and, in the case of cattle and sheep, to tighten up the cleanlinesss standard for livestock being admitted for slaughter for human consumption. The Clean Livestock strategy, written by the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), which is responsible for enforcing meat hygiene legislation in licensed premises, gives further details of this aspect.
Ministers have welcomed publication of the documents and have asked for a review of progress on the raising of standards in slaughterhouses in six months’ time. They have made it clear that, for their part, they will ensure that the relevant Regulations are enforced vigorously.