Slaughter-houses and Meat Processing Factories Act
(Chapter 307, Section 14)
Slaughter-houses Rules
R 1
REVISED EDITION 1990
(25th March 1992)
[22nd September 1972]
Citation
1.  These Rules may be cited as the Slaughter-houses Rules.
Definitions
2.  In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —
“animal” includes poultry, pigs, sheep, goats, cattle, horses and any four-footed beast;
“biological residue” means any substance found in an animal at the time of slaughter or in any of its tissues after slaughter as a result of treatment or exposure of the animal to a pesticide, organic or inorganic compound, hormone, hormone-like substance, growth promoter, antibiotic, anti-helmintic, tranquiliser, or other therapeutic or prophylactic agent;
“inedible” means adulterated, uninspected or condemned for use as human food;
“owner” includes any employee, agent or representative of the owner;
“product” means any carcass, meat, meat by-product or meat food product capable of use as human food.
Application for licence
3.  An applicant for a slaughter-house licence shall apply therefor in writing to the Director in such form as the Director may prescribe together with two recent passport size photographs of the applicant and shall furnish the following particulars:
(a)name, identity card number and address of applicant;
(b)business name and address;
(c)address and total area of the premises to be used as a slaughter-house;
(d)drawings, in duplicate, with specifications that completely and clearly illustrate and describe the applicant's premises showing the locations of the buildings, equipment, rooms, water supply, plumbing, drainage and lighting;
(e)the proposed slaughter fees and other charges;
(f)the estimated number of animals to be slaughtered in a year and the species of animals to be slaughtered;
(g)a list of persons to be employed in the slaughter-house and their duties;
(h)measures to be taken to ensure safety of workers and to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the slaughter-house;
(i)the procedures and techniques of slaughter; and
(j)such other information as the Director may require.
Alterations to slaughter-house
4.  The licensee shall obtain the prior approval of the Director before any alteration is made to any slaughter-house.
Inspection
5.  The Director may inspect the premises intended to be used as a slaughter-house.
Conditions
6.  The applicant shall comply with the following conditions in respect of the premises intended to be used as a slaughter-house:
(a)the premises, including the equipment and utensils, shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition and no materials shall be handled or stored in any place where any product is being prepared, stored or handled;
(b)the premises shall be well ventilated and there shall be no malodour or over-heating and the premises shall be comfortable for the workers to work in;
(c)all interior walls, partitions and doors shall be smooth and constructed of materials impervious to moisture and shall be at least two metres in height above the floor level to ensure thorough cleaning and all surfaces above this height shall be smooth and finished with moisture resistant material;
(d)the floors of the premises shall be laid with suitable material impervious to liquid and the floors shall be suitably graded so as to allow easy and efficient cleaning and draining, leaving no puddles of stagnant water, and as a safety precaution excessively smooth floors shall be avoided;
(e)drains shall be of an adequate size and sufficiently graded to prevent stagnation of water and shall be connected directly or indirectly to a sewer and all drains and gutters shall be properly equipped with traps and vents approved by the Director;
(f)adequate lighting, whether natural or artificial or both, shall be provided on the premises;
(g)toilets, washing facilities and dressing accommodation of adequate size shall be provided for the convenience of the workers. The entrance to these places shall not open directly or indirectly into any place in which any product is being prepared, stored or handled;
(h)clean outer garments, which shall be of material that is readily cleansed, shall be worn by persons who handle any product and the garments shall be worn at the start of each working shift. The veterinary authority may, at any time, require the garments to be changed or replaced;
(i)the equipment and utensils, including tables, benches, containers, racks, trays and blocks used on the premises shall be of non-corrodible material and be kept in good repair, clean and in a sanitary condition. They shall be provided in such numbers as the Director may require;
(j)the refuse shall be collected into covered receptacles and disposed of daily and the receptacle shall be washed and disinfected before reuse;
(k)effective means shall be provided to exclude rats, mice, cockroaches, flies and other vermin from the premises;
(l)no pets or animals shall be kept in the premises;
(m)the supply of water (both hot and cold water) in the premises shall be ample and potable and shall be distributed throughout the premises under adequate pressure;
(n)first-aid facilities shall be provided for workers and any cut or abrasion on an exposed part of the human body shall at all times be covered by a waterproof dressing;
(o)the use of tobacco or any other smoking mixtures or substance and spitting are prohibited in any place where any product is being prepared, stored or handled;
(p)the premises shall have adequate rooms, compartments or space fitted with locks for the storage of inedible products. The rooms, compartments or space shall be adequately lighted and shall be so constructed to facilitate cleaning and disinfecting;
(q)no portion of the premises shall be used as living quarters;
(r)only the type of animals specified in the licence shall be permitted to be slaughtered and dressed; and
(s)the method of slaughter shall be as humane as possible and approved by the veterinary authority.
Validity of licence
7.  Every licence issued under these Rules shall —
(a)unless the contrary is stated therein, expire on 31st December of the year in which it is issued;
(b)be valid only for the period, place or purpose specified therein; and
(c)not be transferable except with the written consent of the Director.
No animal to be taken out of slaughter-house
8.  The licensee shall ensure that no animal admitted into a slaughter-house is taken out without the written approval of a veterinary authority.
Request for information
9.  A veterinary authority may at any time request from the licensee such information or particulars relating to the techniques or procedures of slaughter carried out by the licensee and such other information or particulars as the veterinary authority may require.
Officer to be present
10.  The licensee shall ensure that no slaughter of any animal is carried out unless an officer assigned by the Director for this purpose is present.
Ante-mortem inspection
11.  The licensee shall, in such manner as the Director may from time to time prescribe, subject all animals to an ante-mortem inspection before slaughter and to a meat inspection after slaughter by a veterinary authority in accordance with such meat inspection procedure as may be prescribed by the Director.
Disposal of dead animal and condemned product
12.  Any animal found dead while awaiting slaughter and any condemned product shall be disposed of in such manner as the Director may consider fit without any compensation whatsoever to the owner of the animal or product.
Destruction of sick animals
13.  Any moribund, sick or badly injured animal may be destroyed and disposed of in such manner as the Director may consider fit without any compensation whatsoever to the owner of the animal.
Detention of animal with substance rendering it temporarily unfit for human consumption
14.—(1)  A veterinary authority may detain any animal, suspected of having been treated with or exposed to any substance that may impart a biological residue which would make the edible tissues unfit for human consumption, until such time as metabolic processes have, in the opinion of the veterinary authority, reduced the biological residue sufficiently to make the tissues fit for human consumption.
(2)  In determining the amount of biological residue present in the tissues, the veterinary authority may permit the slaughter of such animal to enable the collection of tissues from that animal for analysis of biological residue.
Hours of operation
15.  Every licensee shall inform the veterinary authority of the hours of operation of the slaughter-house.
Specific directions
16.  The veterinary authority may, at any time, direct that an animal be slaughtered at a specific time and in a specific manner.
Operations of slaughter-house
17.  The licensee shall keep the veterinary authority fully informed of all details regarding the actual operation of the slaughter-house relating to the production of any product.
Information
18.  The licensee shall, upon request by a veterinary authority furnish to the veterinary authority, accurate information regarding reception of animals and information regarding slaughter as he may require.
Samples for testing
19.  The licensee shall, upon request by a veterinary authority, supply such amount of free samples of any product for testing purposes.
Mark of slaughter-house
20.  The licensee shall ensure that any animal slaughtered in the slaughter-house shall bear a mark which shall be of coloured innocuous dyestuff or such other approved substance and such mark shall be of a design approved by the Director.
No slaughter of sick animals
21.  The licensee shall ensure that no dead or sick animal shall be slaughtered for human consumption in the slaughter-house.
Certificate of death and condemned carcass or product
22.  The veterinary authority shall inform the owner of any animal which dies before slaughter or the owner of any condemned whole carcass or product of such death or condemnation and the veterinary authority may issue a certificate in respect of such death or condemnation to the owner.
Tampering with carcass
23.  Any person found tampering with or attempting to remove any lesion, viscera, dead animal, condemned carcass or product shall be guilty of an offence under these Rules.
Disposal of waste
24.  The licensee shall ensure that all trimmings, discarded viscera, dead animals, condemned carcasses and products shall be collected into covered receptacles approved by the Director and the contents thereof shall be disposed of daily in such manner as may be approved by the Director.
Pens
25.  Adequate number of pens, which shall be of a type and size approved by the Director, shall be provided by the licensee for the reception of animals intended for slaughter and for ante-mortem inspection.
Medical conditions and examinations
26.—(1)  The licensee shall ensure that no person suffering from tuberculosis, vesicular diseases, typhoid fever, persistent dermal diseases, sores or other infectious or communicable disease or any other disease likely to contaminate the slaughter-house is allowed to work in the slaughter-house.
(2)  The licensee shall cause every worker to undergo a medical examination at least once a year.
Examination and search
27.  A veterinary authority may, at any time, enter any slaughter-house for the purpose of inspection, examination or search.
Offences
28.  Any person found spitting, littering, gambling or in any way soiling the premises or indulging in any act of vandalism within the slaughter-house shall be guilty of an offence under these Rules.
Directions by Director
29.—(1)  The Director may from time to time issue such directions as he may consider necessary for the proper control and management of any licensed slaughter-house.
(2)  Any person who fails to comply with any such directions shall be guilty of an offence under these Rules.
Penalty
30.  Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of these Rules shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.