Slaughter-houses and Meat Processing Factories Act
(Chapter 307, Section 14)
Meat Processing Factories (Control and Licensing) Rules
R 2
REVISED EDITION 1996
(25th March 1992)
[17th May 1975]
Citation
1.  These Rules may be cited as the Meat Processing Factories (Control and Licensing) Rules.
Definitions
2.  In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —
“licence” means a licence to operate a meat processing factory issued under these Rules;
“licensee” means a holder of a licence.
Application for licence
3.  An applicant for a licence shall apply in writing to the Director in such form as the Director may prescribe and shall furnish to the Director the following particulars:
(a)the name and address of the applicant;
(b)the address and business name, if any, of the meat processing factory;
(c)the total area of the premises to be used as the meat processing factory and a description of the intended business;
(d)duplicates of drawings of the meat processing factory with specifications that completely and clearly illustrate and describe the factory, showing the locations of the buildings, equipment, roadways, wash basins, water wells and water storage tanks, drainage system and toilet soil lines; and
(e)such other particulars of the applicant and the factory as the Director may require.
Conditions
4.  Subject to the provisions of these Rules, no person shall be permitted to hold or be issued a licence unless that person complies with the following conditions in respect of the premises used or intended to be used as a meat processing factory:
(a)Location: The meat processing factory shall be located in an area reasonably free of odours, smoke and flying ash and dust. Adequate dust-proof access to the plant shall be provided from any adjacent public road and railway;
(b)Water supply: All water supplied to the premises shall be ample and potable and shall be distributed throughout the premises under adequate pressure. Where water is taken from private wells, the water shall be clean and effectively protected from dust, dirt and other matter. Where any chlorinator is required in order to ensure that a continuous supply of potable water is available, that chlorinator shall be of the automatic type;
(c)Drainage: Every floor which is wet or is likely to be wet shall be well drained. The drainage system of the factory shall be so constructed as to enable water to flow into a sewerage system and the factory to be cleaned quickly and thoroughly. The drainage system shall be graded sufficiently to prevent stagnation of water and shall be equipped with a deep seal trap;
(d)Floors: Every floor shall be constructed of durable water resistant material, suitably graded so as to enable it to be cleaned and drained easily and efficiently without puddles of water being left on it. No floor shall be excessively smooth;
(e)Walls: The walls within the premises shall be made of smooth, water-proof, light coloured material which can be cleaned easily and daily. Every wall shall be laid with glazed porcelain tiles or such other materials, as the Director may require, to a minimum height of two metres from the floor;
(f)Ceilings: Every ceiling shall be of a sufficient height, and at least 3 metres high in a work-room. Ceilings shall be smooth and flat;
(g)Welfare rooms: Adequate rooms shall be provided in the premises for the relaxation of workers;
(h)Ventilation: Adequate means for ventilation shall be provided in all rooms. Ventilators for rooms shall be so located that there is no contamination of the air with odours, smoke or dust or other matter. Ventilation may be provided by means of windows, fans, extractor fans or air conditioners. The ventilation system shall be provided with effective means of keeping out and expelling insects, odours, smoke, dust, dirt and other matter;
(i)Light: The premises shall be provided with adequate light, whether natural or artificial, or both;
(j)Disposal of refuse: Refuse shall be collected into covered receptacles and disposed of daily. The receptacles shall be washed and disinfected before they are used again;
(k)Utensils: Equipment and utensils shall be kept clean, in good repair and in a sanitary condition. The surface of every piece of equipment and utensil, used for processing meat, shall be smooth, with no pit, crevice or scale, and made of rust-resisting metal, such as stainless steel or aluminium, or of plastic material;
(l)Toilets: The workers shall be provided with adequate facilities for changing clothes and washing and one or more toilets of adequate size. No entrance to the toilets and facilities shall open into any room or space used for processing meat or storing meat and equipment;
(m)Uniforms: Persons coming in direct contact with food shall wear white, clean washable overalls and washable head coverings which shall cover the hair completely;
(n)First aid: First aid facilities shall be provided for workers who handle meat processed or to be processed in the factory. Any cut or abrasion on an exposed part of the body of the worker shall at all times be covered by a water-proof dressing;
(o)Pests: Effective means shall be provided to exclude flies, cockroaches, rats, mice, and other vermin from the premises. Where no such effective means is provided the Director may enter the premises and take such measures as he thinks fit to exclude flies, cockroaches, rats, mice and other vermin from the premises. Any expense incurred by the Director in carrying out the provisions of this paragraph shall be borne by the person who operates the meat processing factory;
(p)Places of work: No store-room or bedroom shall be used for processing meat. No room used for storing meat processed or to be processed in the factory shall be used for any other purpose. No room that opens into a bedroom shall be used for processing any exposed meat;
(q)Smoking and spitting: No smoking and spitting shall be permitted in any room used for processing exposed meat.
Discretion to issue licence
5.—(1)  The Director may, in his discretion, issue a licence to an applicant therefor, with or without conditions, upon payment of the fees prescribed in rule 7 or refuse to issue a licence.
(2)  The Director may at any time vary or revoke any existing conditions of a licence or impose conditions or additional conditions thereto.
(3)  Where a licence is subject to conditions the licensee shall comply with those conditions.
Revocation of licence
6.—(1)  The Director may, by order, revoke a licence —
(a)if he is satisfied that the licensee —
(i)has ceased to carry on the business for which he has been licensed or, if the licensee, being a company, goes into liquidation or is wound up or otherwise dissolved;
(ii)has obtained his licence contrary to the provisions of the Act;
(iii)is no longer a fit and proper person to continue to hold a licence;
(iv)is contravening or has contravened any of the provisions of the Act or these Rules; or
(v)has been convicted of an offence under the Act or these Rules or, if the licensee is a company, any of its officers holding a managerial or an executive position has been convicted of an offence under the Act or these Rules;
(b)if he finds any condition in the meat processing factory in respect of which the licence has been issued is or may become dangerous to health or may hinder in any manner the suppression of disease; or
(c)if he considers it in the public interest to do so.
(2)  When the Director has revoked a licence under paragraph (1), he shall forthwith inform the licensee by notice in writing of the revocation.
(3)  The licensee may, within 7 days of the receipt of the notice referred to in paragraph (2), or such extended period of time as the Minister may allow, appeal in writing against the revocation to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
(4)  Where the Director has revoked a licence, the revocation shall take effect notwithstanding that an appeal to the Minister has been made and a decision is pending.
Fees
7.  The fee for a licence to operate —
(a)a meat processing factory not falling within the description in sub-paragraph (b) shall be —
(i)$180 for a period of one year; and
[S 164/98 wef 01/04/1998]
(ii)$540 for a period of 3 years; and
[S 164/98 wef 01/04/1998]
(b)a meat processing factory where meat in containers is hermetically sealed and is thereafter preserved by subjection to heat treatment shall be —
(i)$800 for a period of one year; and
[S 164/98 wef 01/04/1998]
(ii)$2,400 for a period of 3 years.
[S 164/98 wef 01/04/1998]
[Subst. by S 18 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
Validity of licence
8.  A licence —
(a)may, at the discretion of the Director, be issued for a period of one year or 3 years;
(b)shall be valid only for the period, place and purposes specified therein; and
(c)shall not be transferable except with the prior written permission of the Director.
[Subst. by S 18 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
No alteration to building
9.  No alteration or change shall be made to the buildings or premises of a meat processing factory unless plans of the alteration or change is first submitted to the Director and his prior written approval obtained.
Licence to be exhibited
10.  A licence shall be exhibited in a conspicuous position in the meat processing factory.
Information to be given
11.—(1)  A licensee of a meat processing factory shall, on demand being made therefor by a veterinary authority, provide the veterinary authority with information on the techniques or procedures used for processing meat in the factory.
(2)  The licensee shall, on demand being made therefor by a veterinary authority, supply him with samples of any preservative, dye-stuff and other ingredient used in the processing of meat in the factory, and the markings made on the meat or embossed on tin cans in which the meat is contained, together with the meanings of such markings.
(3)  The Director may give such directions as he thinks fit on the use of such preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient or markings.
Samples
12.—(1)  The veterinary authority may at any reasonable time enter upon or into the meat processing factory and take or cause to be taken from a meat processing factory samples of meat processed or to be processed therein, or any preservative, dye-stuff or any other ingredient used in the manufacture thereof for laboratory analysis or examination.
(2)  Where such samples are taken pursuant to paragraph (1), 3 samples of that meat, preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient of about the same quantity shall be collected, sealed, labelled and dated by the veterinary authority who shall also sign his name on each sample. One sample shall be retained by the licensee of the meat processing factory, and two samples shall be taken by the veterinary authority.
(3)  Where the veterinary authority requires more samples of that meat, preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient for laboratory analysis or examination, the licensee shall provide him with samples, unless the veterinary authority is satisfied that more samples cannot be obtained.
(4)  The veterinary authority may inform the licensee in writing of the results or findings of the analysis or examination. The results or findings of the analysis or examination shall not be used for advertising any meat processing factory or meat processed therein.
Results of analysis of samples
13.—(1)  Where a veterinary authority is of the opinion as a result of any analysis or examination of samples of any meat, preservative, dye-stuff or any other ingredient used in the manufacture thereof under rule 12 that the meat, preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient is likely to cause illness or disease or is otherwise unfit for human consumption, the veterinary authority may direct the licensee of the meat processing factory from which the samples were taken to destroy the meat, preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient or to take such measures or perform and do such act and things as are, in the opinion of the veterinary authority, necessary to render the meat, preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient fit for human consumption.
(2)  It shall be an offence for the licensee of a meat processing factory to —
(a)process any meat; or
(b)use any preservative, dye-stuff or other ingredient,
that is likely to cause illness or disease or is otherwise unfit for human consumption.
[Subst. by S 18 /96 wef 12.1.96.]
No employment of sick persons
14.—(1)  No licensee shall employ or permit a person suffering from tuberculosis, vesicular diseases, typhoid fever, persistent dermal diseases, sores or any other disease likely to contaminate any meat processed in a meat processing factory or infect any worker employed therein to work in such factory.
(2)  Every licensee shall cause every worker employed in a meat processing factory to be examined by a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act [Cap. 174] at least once a year.
Inspection by veterinary authority
15.  A veterinary authority may at any time enter upon or into any meat processing factory for the purpose of ascertaining whether any offence against the Act or these Rules has been or is being committed.
Certificate of fitness for human consumption
16.  The Director may, on an application being made therefor, issue a certificate of fitness for human consumption of any canned meat or manufactured meat product or any other certificate in respect of the processing of meat in a meat processing factory in such form as the Director may prescribe, after the Director or a person authorised by him in that behalf has examined or analysed and inspected the processing of such meat or product and upon payment of the fees set out in the Schedule.
Certificate of analysis
17.  The Director may, on an application being made therefor, issue a certificate of analysis of any meat, in such form as the Director may prescribe after the Director or a person authorised by him in that behalf has examined, analysed or carried out tests on the meat and upon payment of the fees set out in the Schedule.
Restricted use of factory
18.  No person shall use a meat processing factory licensed under these Rules for any purpose other than that specified in the licence without the written consent of the Director.
Penalties
19.  A person who contravenes 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 one year or to both.