The section manages the official
controls carried out in the four poultry slaughterhouses present in Malta and
connected cutting plants and the two lagomorphs (Rabbit) slaughterhouses.
In the poultry slaughterhouses, Official Veterinarians carry out an
ante-mortem inspection on all batches of animals transported for slaughter,
with the aim of ensuring that animal welfare regulations are complied with, and
that the animals are healthy. The Food Chain Information, which includes the
salmonella status of the farm of origin, is also collected prior to slaughter
in order to improve food safety.
After slaughter, a post-mortem examination on the carcasses is carried
out to ensure that the meat is fit for human consumption. Furthermore, samples
of meat and other tissues are taken for laboratory analysis in line with
Regulation (EC) No. 2073/05 with the aim of guaranteeing food safety through
compliance with microbiological food safety criteria and process hygiene
criteria.