by D. Herenda, P.G. Chambers, A. Ettriqui, P. Seneviratna, T.J.P. da Silva
Reprinted 2000

Meat inspection is commonly perceived as the sanitary control of slaughter animals and meat. The aim of meat inspection is to provide safe and wholesome meat for human consumption. The responsibility for achieving this objective lies primarily with the relevant public health authorities who are represented by veterinarians and meat inspectors at the abattoir stage.

In many developing regions and in particular in rural abattoirs, meat inspectors often lack the necessary information and guidelines to assess the sanitary status of carcasses, meat and organs from slaughter animals. FAO has therefore endeavoured to prepare concise guidelines on the subject together with colour illustrations demonstrating the pathological lesions that may occur in bovines, small ruminants, pigs, game, poultry and rabbits. The statements made on the judgement of diseased carcasses or parts of the carcasses are recommendations which are also influenced by the need of salvaging as much meat as possible for human consumption. These recommendations are not meant to interfere with any existing regulations on the subject in individual countries.

This Manual on Meat Inspection for Developing Countries has been prepared by an experienced meat inspection specialist as the main author in cooperation with meat inspection experts from the four regions Asia and Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Near East. The book is intended to guide meat inspectors particularly in the four mentioned regions in their daily work in urban and rural abattoirs. Veterinarians engaged in meat inspection will also benefit, especially as regards their supervisory roles in meat hygiene. The book shall also serve as a training manual for trainees in meat inspection, a field in which FAO has organized theoretical and practical training courses for many years. FAO will continue these activities in future and it is expected that the Manual will facilitate these tasks.

The Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Meat and the Codes for Anti-Mortem and Post-Mortem Inspection of Slaughter Animals published recently by the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission is a useful supplement to this publication and provides additional information on meat hygiene and inspection procedures.