12.01.2005
Development of a decision model for admitting slaughter-pigs for slaughter in the framework of risk-based meat inspection
The implementation of mandatory meat inspection in the beginning of the 20th century increased consumer protection in Germany. Due to the consequent accomplishment of meat inspection procedures, most of the socalled “classical” zoonoses could be eradicated. With the improving health status of slaughter animals during the last 100 years the batches of animals arriving at slaughter have become more homogeneous. Zoonoses being a risk to human health usually appear subclinically in animals. Next to residues in the animals´ bodies zoonotic diseases do not lead to visible lesions in carcasses and organs of slaughter animals, so that the traditional meat inspection is no longer able to prevent consumers from all the hazards coming from fresh meat.
Following this development, the European Union has implemented new food hygiene rules. Regulation (EC) 854/2004 makes the official veterinarian responsible for appraising the food chain information before admitting pigs for slaughter. The official veterinarian has to make the risk-based decision on which kind of meat inspection method is appropriate for a specific batch of slaughter pigs: a visual meat inspection, the traditional meat inspection method or a more intensive meat inspection.
The appraisal of food chain information can be based on the decision model that has been developed in the present study. The choice of an inspection method results from the following decision cascade regarded 24 hours before the pigs arrive at the slaughterhouse:
1. Appraisal of the information flow, which means: ”Is the relevant food chain information available?”
a) Information is available: continue at 2.
b) Information is not available: Pigs are not admitted for slaughter.
2. Appraisal of the housing system and the organisational structure
a) Pigs have been raised in an integrated system and were housed under controlled conditions since weaning: continue at 3.
The possible options are the visual, the traditional or the more intensive meat inspection, or their refusal for slaughter.
b) Pigs are coming from conditions other than stated in a): continue at 3.
In such case, there is no option of a visual meat inspection.
3. Decision-making based on food chain information
a) Appraisal of farm information
• participation in a quality assurance system
• Salmonella status of the farm
• farm management / housing conditions
• slaughter check index of the farm
• delivery management of the farm
• meat inspection results
b) Appraisal of batch information
• health status of the slaughter pigs
• mortality in the finishing group
• medication during the finishing phase
To visualise the parameters of food chain information, a traffic light system has been developed. It is performed in the inter-enterprise data warehouse “GIQS Backbone”.
Therefore, thresholds that allow the risk assessment of a batch of slaughter pigs have been developed.
When the defined “limit value” is exceeded, the traffic light is red. When the “warning value” is exceeded, the traffic light is yellow. A green traffic light signals compliance with the thresholds.
The results of a pilot experiment showed that the selected parameters of food chain information are usable for the risk-assessment of batches of slaughter pigs. Visualisation with the traffic light system is useful. In the future, the technical conversion of the traffic light system as well as the flow of information especially from the primary production side should be improved.
SCHRUFF, CHRISTIANE (2004):
Entwicklung eines Entscheidungsmodells für die Zulassung von Mastschweinen zur Schlachtung im Rahmen der risikoorientierten Fleischuntersuchung
Development of a decision model for admitting slaughter-pigs for slaughter in the framework of risk-based meat inspection
Hannover, Tierärztliche Hochschule: Dissertation
The whole dissertation can be found here ...
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