Derogation on Temperature Conditions in Meat Transport

Current hygiene rules require that carcasses of domestic hoofed animals be chilled immediately after post-mortem inspection to a core temperature of no greater than 7°C before transportation can begin. Meat producers can apply for a derogation from this rule under certain conditions.

The food business operator must receive documented authorisation from the competent authority at the place of departure to make use of this derogation. There are certain time, temperature and hygiene parameters laid down in the regulation which must be achieved before derogated transport can be authorised.

The derogation rule applies only to:

• meat of cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs
• carcasses, half carcasses, and half carcasses cut into three wholesale cuts
• slaughter plants meeting defined carcass hygiene standards, including demonstrating conformity to the specified carcass aerobic colony counts, based on EFSA models

The following conditions also apply:

• temperatures must be monitored and recorded within the framework of procedures based upon the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles
• the temperature of the meat must decrease continually throughout chilling and after arrival at the destination, until a core temperature of 7° C or less is reached
• food business operators must chill the meat to the mandatory surface temperatures within a specified maximum time after slaughter, to avoid prolonged chilling and bacterial growth, in line with EFSA models
• the transport vehicle must be fitted with an instrument that monitors and records temperature, such that competent authorities (CA) are enabled to verify compliance
• the slaughter plant must be authorised by their CA to avail of this derogation
• the food business operator (FBO) of destination must notify their CA before they receive derogated meat for the first time

The transport vehicle must collect derogated meat from only one slaughter plant per transport. Non-derogated meat, which is meat which has been chilled to a core temperature of 7°C or less, may share the same vehicle or compartment. If so, the derogated meat must be chilled before loading to a core temperature of 15° C or less.

You should read the trader guidance on the temperature derogation for further details on the scheme’s conditions before completing the application form below.