Decree No. 44 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food validating Veterinary and sanitary regulation concerning examination of slaughter animals and veterinary and sanitary expertise of meat and meat-based products.

This Decree establishes common rules and regulations for veterinary examination of slaughter animals and veterinary and sanitary expertise of carcasses and visceral organs of animals after slaughtering, meat and meat-based products. It shall be applicable to animals (poultry) subject to slaughtering, and also to meat and meat-based products originating from slaughtering, processing, storage, transportation and trade thereof. All animal (poultry) species subject to slaughtering shall pass compulsory veterinary examination while meat, meat-based products and other animal products shall be subject to compulsory veterinary and sanitary expertise and veterinary marking. Transportation and slaughtering of animals (poultry) shall prevent cruelty to animals and injuries. Visceration shall take place non later than 45 minutes after knocking of the animals and no later than 30 minutes after bleeding thereof.