V.RBP.0026 - Technical advisor for post-mortem inspection

Summary

A technical review of post-mortem inspection and disposition judgement criteria Schedules 2 and 3 of AS4696:2007 (the standard) for beef, sheep and goats was undertaken in MLA Projects V.MFS.0020, V.MFS.0021, V.MFS.0022.

In the standard neither Schedules 2 nor 3 had been reviewed using the risk-based approach of the CODEX Meat Hygiene Code of Practice (2005).

Projects outputs resulted in the Australian Meat Regulators Group approving fourteen alternative procedures from 1 March 2020 in domestic abattoirs (AMRG Guideline 2020.1).

Project V.RBP.0026 (2018–2022) was commissioned to provide technical support for implementation of the approved alternatives into the domestic (Guideline) and export standard (AS4696:2022 pending).
The outputs underpin modernisation of meat inspection, estimated at $102M net present value to the Australian meat industry.

Objectives

Provide MLA-specified technical advice and training and extension services to support the efficient implementation of alternative post-mortem inspection procedures in Australian red meat processing establishments.

Key findings

• The project outputs indicate there is an acceptance of risk-based reform of PMID. This reform was initiated by industry, not in response to unmanaged meat safety risk.
• Domestic regulators embraced the principles of Codex to judge and accept the equivalence of alternative PMID.
• There is now a package of resources available to support implementation of AS4696:2022 (pending) including training resources, a round of training completed for official plant veterinarians and two sessions with their managers.
• The final progression of AS4696:2022 via Standards Australia, advising and gaining acceptance by export markets and subsequent implementation in export establishments rests with DAWE.

Benefits to industry

Review of AS4696:2007 and the proposed changes aimed at:
• stopping unnecessary inspection procedures
• cross-contamination during inspection
• unnecessary waste.

The outcomes are estimated to deliver $102M net present value to the Australian meat industry.They also deliver a key outcome of the Export Meat Modernisation program: Post-mortem Inspection and Disposition Reform.

MLA action

Further work to modify post-mortem inspection and disposition may be possible.

Future research

Further support for the development of Equivalence Proposals to key export markets for acceptance of alternative post-mortem inspection for Beef Measles (Cysticercus bovis) is underway in a project funded by the Australian Meat Processing Corporation.