Meat and meat products for export

The export of meat and meat products is an important element in the economy of some developed countries including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States, as well as some developing countries, especially those of South America. There is an ever present worldwide demand for meats of all descriptions – beef, sheep, goat, poultry, game, manufactured meats etc. – both as fresh and processed product. As a result, developing countries have the opportunity of contributing to this international demand and sharing in what is a very lucrative trade, subject of course to their meeting the stringent requirements demanded by all meat importing countries.

Because of its composition, meat of all sorts is highly susceptible to microbiological and chemical contamination and unless handled and processed in a proper manner may present a serious health hazard to consumers. Consequently, meat importing countries set high standards for both product preparation and final involving the severest of quality controls and scientific inspection. Export meat quality control and inspection is adopted to ensure that:

o the source animals are healthy and disease free;

o only disease-free meat is exported;

o the meat complies with any special quarantine requirements prescribed by the importing country;

o the meat does not contain residues of agricultural chemicals (pesticide residues, etc.), veterinary drugs (antibiotics, growth promotors, etc.) or any other contaminants above the prescribed tolerance limits of importing countries;

o the meat is correctly graded to mandatory standards of either the exporting country or the importing country.

It is essential that each export meat establishment be approved, and provision for this should be included in the export regulations for meat. An essential part of effective export quality control and inspection is the control of export establishments. A well managed, well equipped, clean and efficiently run establishment is most likely to export safe product of acceptable quality. A poorly managed, poorly equipped, unclean and inefficiently run establishment will not produce goods that are safe and acceptable for export. In the case of meat, importing countries invariably demand that product they import comes from establishments registered by the government of the exporting country.

In brief, meat establishments seeking export registration should comply with the following requirements:

o Correctly sited to enable proper drainage and minimize contamination of product from surrounding areas and adjacent premises;

o Proper construction of the establishment to enable effective operation thereby ensuring a safe and acceptable final product;

o Satisfactory surroundings to minimize dust and accumulation of debris, run-off water and waste;

o Efficient and easily cleaned processing and handling equipment, etc.

№5.Answer the following questions.

1.For what countries is export of mean an important element in the economy?

2.What hazard can meat present to consumers?

3.What should be ensured when exporting meat?

4.What requirements should meat establishments seeking export registration comply with?

Дата добавления: 2015-11-16