Abattoir Regulations 1972 (L.N. No.27 of 1972)

LEGAL NOTICE NO. 27 OF 1972o The Abattoir Regulations 1972 In the exercise of the powers vested in me by section 4 of the Local Administration Act 1969,I, Matete Majara Minister of the Interior hereby make the following regulations Citation 1. These regulations may be cited as the Abattoir Regulations 1972 Interpretation 2. In the regulations, unless inconsistent with the context “abattoir” means a slaughter house established for the slaughtering of animals for human consumption; “abattoir attendant” means any person appointed from time to time to be in charge of any abattoir and to carry out duties assigned to him under these regulations; “district administrator” means any person the post so designated and includes a Town clerk and a person acting as district administrator or town clerk; “health officer” means and include any medical officer, meat inspector or health inspector or any person appointed by the health officer; “Minister” means Minister responsible for the administration of principal law; “veterinary officer” means any veterinary officer in the employ of the Lesotho Government; Application 3. These regulations shall apply to the urban areas designated in Part I of the Schedule hereto, and to such other areas as the Minister may designate from time to time by notice in the Gazette. Opening and 4. The abattoir shall be open on such days and between such hours as may be fixed Closing hours from time to time by the district administrator or town clerk. Abattoir book 5. (1) Every butcher or his duly authorized agent shall daily enter in the abattoir book to be kept for the purpose the number of stock killed and such further particular as may be required, and shall sign such entry. (2) A butcher or the duly authorized agent of a butcher, who falls or refuse to comply with the provisions of this regulation, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalty prescribed in regulation 26. Slaughtering 6. (1) No butcher who carries on business within an area to which these regulations etc at any apply and sells meat for human consumption, shall slaughter the animals the meat of place other which he sells; or scald or dress the carcasses thereof, nor shall he cause or suffer than an such to be done in or on any place other than an abattoir to which these regulation abattoir apply, provided may import carcasses of animals slaughtered at a recognized prohibited abattoir outside Lesotho, and provided further that a health officer is satisfied that the carcasses so imported are free from disease and fit for human consumption. (2) Whenever a butcher imports carcasses under subsection (1) such carcasses shall be taken to an abattoir in Lesotho nearest to the port of entry or to such other place as the health officer may direct for purpose of inspection. The charges for such inspection shall be as set out in Part II of the schedule hereto. (3) Any person who contravenes the provision of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalty prescribed in regulation 26. Inspection 7. (1) Any health officer or veterinary officer may at any time enter any abattoir and of abattoir and examine the carcasses therein, and may exercise all powers necessary for the due observance of the provisions of these regulations. (2) Any person who willfully obstructs or resists the lawful exercise of powers conferred by this regulation on a health officer, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalty prescribed in regulation 26. (3) A health officer may at any time inspect any abattoir and submit a report to the Minister on such inspection. A copy of any report so submitted shall be submitted to the district administrator or town clerk. (4) The carcasses of animals slaughtered in an abattoir and intended for human consumption shall be subject to an inspection by a health officer or veterinary officer. Condemnation 8.whole carcasses of meat or any parts thereof may be condemned by a health officer of meat or veterinary officer. Destruction of 9. (1) whenever a health officer or veterinary officer condemns any carcasses or meat condemned as unfit for human consumption the abattoir attendant shall instruct the butcher meat responsible or his duly authorized agent, to remove the carcass or meat immediately from the abattoir and to destroy it and the destruction shall be supervised by a health officer, veterinary officer, or members of the Lesotho Mounted Police. All carcasses, meat, fat and offal seized and condemned shall be destroyed without compensation to the owner thereof. (2) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with instruction issued by the abattoir attendant in pursuance of the provisions of this regulation, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalty prescribed in regulation 26. Power to issue 10. (1) All persons entering an abattoir shall comply with all lawful verbal or instructions written instructions of the abattoir attendant or health officer which may be to persons necessary for the administration of the provisions of these regulations. entering abattoir (2) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with instructions issued in pursuance of the provisions of this regulation, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalty prescribed in regulation 26. Exclusion of 11. (1) No person who is suffering from any active infectious disease shall work in or diseased enter any abattoir for any purpose whatsoever. Person from abattoir (2) Any person who knowingly contravenes the provision of this regulation shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalty prescribed in regulation 26. Exclusion of 12. No dog, cat, fowl or any other animal which feeds on offal shall be allowed dogs, cats within the gates of any abattoir, and any person who shall bring or allow such dog, fowls etc. cat, or fowl or any other animal to be brought upon the abattoir premises, shall be g guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalty prescribed in regulation 26. Intoxicating 13. No person shall bring upon abattoir premises intoxicating liquor of whatever liquor nature and no person under the influence of any such liquor shall enter the abattoir premises. Unseemly 14. No person shall expectorate, smoke or commit a nuisance within the abattoir, behavior and no person shall damage or destroy any fittings, equipment or appliances on or upon any part of the buildings or premises, nor shall any person behave in a noisy, unseemly or objectionable manner, or cause any disturbance or use any abusive or insulting language nor interfere with or impede any official or other person in the performance of his duties at the abattoir. Diseased 15. (1) No person shall introduce animal or animal suspected of being diseased, into animals the abattoir without the written consent of the health officer. (2) The health officer shall prohibit the slaughter of any animal brought to the abattoir, if, in his opinion, such animal is suffering from any infectious or contagious disease or is so emaciated to be unfit for human consumption. Infectious 16. Any animal brought to the abattoir and found to be suffering from an infectious diseases disease, shall immediately be removed by the owner thereof to such place as may be pointed out by the health officer, and there be isolated. Such owner shall be obliged to explain to the health officer where such animal was brought from. The health officer may destroy such animal without liability for the payment of damages. Dead or 17. No person shall bring any dead or dying animal into the abattoir without first dying animals having obtained the permission of the health officer. Admittance 18. No person, except those directly employed at the abattoir and employees of the prohibited of the government shall be allowed in or upon the abattoir premises without the written permission of the health officer; and no person shall sleep or reside on any portion of the abattoir premises. Dealings in 19. No dealings in paunches, guts, entrails or offal shall take place within the offal abattoir premises without the written permission of the health officer, and then only at such place or in such locality as may from time to time be pointed out by him Animals dying 20. The carcasses or meat of any animal dying at the abattoir, or the carcass of any dying at the unborn or still-born calf or lamb, shall be considered unfit for human consumption abattoir and shall be seized and destroyed by health officer. Animals dying 21. No fatigued, exhausted or excited animals shall, while in such condition, be exhausted slaughtered, but shall be allowed to regain its normal condition before being killed. animals Vehicle 22. No person shall cause or permit any carcass, meat, fat or offal intended for human consumption, to be removed or conveyed from the abattoir in a cart or vehicle which is not in a thoroughly clean and sanitary state. Such cart or vehicle shall be maintained in good repair and not be used for any other purpose. Before such cart or vehicle is put into operation, the owner shall apply to the health officer for his approval thereof. Removal of 23. No carcasses or portion of carcass shall be removed the abattoir without being carcasses properly covered with a clean and suitable cover, and no person shall sit on any carcass, meat or covering either at the abattoir or during conveyance thereof. Charges 24. The charges for the use of the abattoir including the use of lairages, the hanging hall and the inspection of carcasses shall be as set out in Part II of the schedule hereto. Payment of 25. The charges prescribed in regulation 24 shall be paid in advance by the person at charges whose instance any animal is slaughtered, to the abattoir attendant at the time of slaughtering. Offences and 26. Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of these penalties regulations shall, where no other penalty is expressly imposed, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding R50 or in default of payment to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 6 months or to both such fine and imprisonment. Revocation 27. The Local Government Model Abattoir By-Law 1972, is hereby revoked. Matete Majara, Minister of the Interior.