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slaughterhouses. These standards applied immediately to all new slaughterhouses.
Existing premises are to be brought up to these standards as soon
as possible, but without reducing the facilities available in an area below
the required minimum. The Act preserves the existing system for the
licensing of private slaughter-houses by local authorities, and the
provision by authorities of public slaughterhouses. Existing slaughterhouses
which do not reach the minimum standards are to be dealt with
in two stages. In the first phase, which will cover some two years, traders
will be free to establish slaughterhouses where they like, subject to
standards and to Town Planning requirements. In the next phase, some
measure of control will be exercised over the granting of licenses. In due
course each authority will have to review and report to the Minister on
the existing and probable future requirements of their districts of
slaughterhouse facilities, and facilities which are, or are likely to become,
available to meet these requirements. When reporting, the Council will
recommend a date on which the Minister might apply to existing
slaughterhouses the new standards of construction for hygiene and for
the prevention of cruelty to animals.
Exchequer Grant towards the Cost of Meat Inspection: The
Act also provides for arrangements being made for grants to be paid to
local authorities who have to meet unduly heavy expenses in carrying out
their functions with respect to the inspection of meat at slaughterhouses.
The Slaughterhouses (Meat Inspection Grant) Regulations, 1958 prescribe
the conditions under which Exchequer Grants towards the cost of meat
inspection would be made, and the methods by which the grants would be
calculated. These provisions are intended to benefit districts, particularly
those low-rated, where much killing takes place, little of it being for local
consumption. This district cannot benefit from them.
Circular F.S.H. 3/58 of the 31st March, 1958, drew attention to the
need for particular care when sheep are stunned by electricity to avoid
the infliction of unnecessary suffering. Certain precautions were suggested.
The Slaughtering of Pigs (Anaesthesia) Regulations, 1958 which
came into operation on the 1st December, permit the use of a process of
anaesthesia by carbon-dioxide in connection with the slaughter
Pigs. The regulations lay down requirements that must be observed in
the design and operation of an installation. No installation may be used
unless the local authority have given a certificate of approval.
The Slaughterhouses (Hygiene) Regulations, 1958 and the
Slaughtering of Animals (Prevention of Cruelty) Regulations, 1958 which
are designed to secure the observance of sanitary and cleanly conditions
in connection with the construction and operation of slaughterhouses
and the handling of meat therein, did not come into operation until 1st
January, 1959.
Inspection of Meat. In 1938 there were some 12,000 slaughterhouses
he country. During the war, killing was restricted to about 500
premises. At the time when the control of meat ended there were in use