Slaughter of Animals Act

BELIZE SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS ACT CHAPTER 154 REVISED EDITION 2000 SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000 This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 1980 - 1990. This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3 SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS ACT 4 Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000. BELIZE SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS ACT CHAPTER 154 REVISED EDITION 2000 SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000 This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 1980 - 1990. This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3 SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS ACT 4 Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000. THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000 Printed by the Government Printer, No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Slaughter of Animals [CAP. 154 [ ] 3 CHAPTER 154 SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 1. Short title. 2. Interpretation. 3. Slaughtered animals for export. 4. Appointment of authorised officer. 5. Provisions as to slaughter of certain animals in slaughterhouse. 6. Prohibition of stunning except by licensed slaughtermen. 7. Inspection of slaughterhouse. 8. Offences. Slaughter of AnimalsCAP. 154] THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000 Printed by the Government Printer, No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 4 [ ] CHAPTER 154 SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS [3rd August, 1968] l.-(1) This Act may be cited as the Slaughter of Animals Act. (2) The provisions of this Act shall apply to such area or areas as the Minister may by Order published in the Gazette1 appoint. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires: “animals” means the male, female or young of any of the following species: goat, swine, cattle or sheep; “authorised officer” means a medical officer of health or any person authorised by the Minister under section 4; “knacker’s yard” means any premises used in connection with the business of slaughtering, flaying or cutting up animals the flesh of which is not intended for human consumption; “mechanically operated instrument” includes an instrument for stunning by means of electricity; 1. By S.I. No. 13 of 1970 the Minister applied the Ordinance (as the Act then was) to two areas in the Belize District. 12 of 1968. 13 of 1981. 22 of 1987. Short title. Interpretation. CAP. 119, R.E. 1980-1990. THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000 Printed by the Government Printer, No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Slaughter of Animals [CAP. 154 [ ] 5 “slaughterhouse” means any premises which are required to be licensed under the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act and used for slaughtering animals, the flesh of which is intended for sale for human consumption, and includes any place available in connection therewith for the confinement of animals while awaiting slaughter there, or for keeping or subjecting to any treatment or process products of the slaughtering of animals there, and includes any place available in connection with a slaughterhouse and used for the manufacture of bacon, ham, sausages, meat pies or other manufactured meat products or for the storage of meat used in such manufacture. 3.-(1) No animal of which the carcass or any part or any product thereof is to be exported shall be slaughtered other than in a slaughterhouse licensed under the Food and Drugs Act. (2) No horse shall be slaughtered in or brought after slaughter into a slaughterhouse. 4. The Minister may appoint any person in writing to be an authorised officer for the purpose of this Act. 5. No animal shall be slaughtered in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard except in accordance with the following provisions, that is to say, every such animal shall be instantaneously slaughtered, or shall by stunning be instantaneously slaughtered, or shall by stunning be instantaneously rendered insensible to pain until death supervenes and such slaughtering or stunning shall be effected by means of a mechanically operated instrument in proper repair. 6.-(1) No animal shall be slaughtered or stunned in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard by any person who is not the holder of a licence granted by the Minister: Provided that this subsection shall not apply with respect to the slaughter of any animal under the provisions of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority Act. Slaughtered animals for export. CAP. 291. Appointment of authorised officer. Provisions as to slaughter of certain animals in slaughterhouse. Prohibition of stunning except by licensed slaughtermen. CAP. 211. CAP. 291. Slaughter of AnimalsCAP. 154] THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000 Printed by the Government Printer, No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 6 [ ] (2) The Minister may grant a licence to any person of the age of eighteen years or upwards who is, in his opinion, a fit and proper person to hold such a licence. (3) A licence under this section shall be in force for such period not exceeding three years as may be specified therein and may be renewed from time to time at the discretion of the Minister. (4) A licence shall be produced on demand for inspection by any authorised officer. (5) The Minister may suspend the operation of a licence at any time for such period as he may determine and, where he is satisfied that the person is no longer a fit and proper person to hold a licence, may revoke the licence. (6) A fee of ten dollars shall be charged for each such licence and a like fee for every renewal thereof. (7) Any licence granted under this section shall specify (a) the kind of animals which may be slaughtered or stunned by the holder of the licence; and (b) the types of instrument which may be used by him for slaughtering or stunning any such animals, and may be granted subject to a condition prohibiting the slaughtering of any animal in pursuance of the licence except under the supervision of a person being the holder of a licence in force under this section which is not subject to a like condition. THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000 Printed by the Government Printer, No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Slaughter of Animals [CAP. 154 [ ] 7 (8) The Minister may make regulations to provide for (a) the humane slaughter of animals and the supervision thereof; and (b) the handling of animals in preparation for their slaughter, including their transportation and confinement. (9) There may be annexed to the breach of any regulations made under this section a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars and in the case of a continuing offence a further penalty not exceeding fifty dollars for every day the breach continues. (10) Notwithstanding any penalty imposed under subsection (9), the Minister may suspend or revoke the licence of any person acting in contravention of any regulation. 7. Any authorised officer may enter any slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard at any time when business is, or appears to be in progress, or is usually carried on therein for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been any contravention of this Act, and if any person shall refuse to permit any authorised officer to enter any premises which he is entitled to enter under this Act, or shall obstruct or impede him in the exercise of his duties under this Act, he is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars. 8.-(1) Subject to this section, any person who slaughters or stuns, or attempts to slaughter or stun, any animal in contravention of section 5 or 6 or knowingly makes any false statement for the purpose of obtaining a licence under this Act, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and term of imprisonment. 13 of 1981. 13 of 1981. 13 of 1981. Inspection of slaughterhouse. Offences. Slaughter of AnimalsCAP. 154] THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000 Printed by the Government Printer, No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 8 [ ] (2) A person shall not be guilty of an offence in respect of any contraven tion under subsection (1) if he proves that by reason of an accident or other emergency the contravention was necessary for preventing physical injury or suffering to any person or animal.