The Food Safety Authority has raised a range of non-compliance issues in an audit of 11 knackeries which deal with fallen animals.

Strict regulation surrounds the disposal of dead animals from farms to knackeries.

Knackeries and rendering plants are tightly regulated to ensure no animal byproduct can enter the human food chain. Byproduct is not intended for human consumption.

Only seven of the 11 knackeries were found to be compliant with basic structure and hygiene requirements, with significant non-compliance in relation to one knackery.

In one facility, which was physically attached to both a dog breeding establishment and a haulage business, concerns were expressed about the separation of the various businesses. No record of the stock held on site was available at this premises.

It also found that only two knackeries fully complied with rules on meat staining and denaturing.

In one knackery, significant volumes of tripe was stored in a large refrigerated container with no traceability documentation.

In seven establishments feeding meat from fallen animals to dogs, bones and carcase sides/quarters were fed to greyhounds, which is not allowed, while another was storing unstained bovine legs and equine sides.

Records

In all establishments, the auditors found that “efforts were being made by the businesses to maintain records, nevertheless, reconciliation of records was not possible”.

The Department of Agriculture has recommended new conditions for knackeries to meet in order to be approved.

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