Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1729 of 1997).

The Regulations implement Council Directive 96/22/EC concerning the prohibition on the use in stockfarming of certain substances having a hormonal or thyrostatic action and of beta-agonists. They also implement Council Directive 96/23/EC on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products and provide for the enforcement and execution of the prohibition in Articles 5 and 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2377/90. The Regulations - (a) prohibit the sale, possession or administration to animals of specified unauthorized substances (regs. 3-7); (b) prohibit the possession, slaughter or processing the meat of, animals intended for human consumption which contain, or which have been administered with, specified unauthorized substances (reg. 8); (c) prohibit the sale or supply for slaughter of animals if the appropriate withdrawal period has not expired and prohibit supply for slaughter or, subject to exceptions, the sale, of animals or the sale of animal products which contain unauthorized substances or an excess of authorized substances (regs. 9 and 10); (d) prohibit, subject to an exception, the disposal for human or animal consumption of slaughtered animals containing specified unauthorized substances (regulations 11 and 12); (e) empower authorized officers to inspect and examine animals and to take samples and provide for the analysis of official samples (regs. 13-22); (f) provide for offences and penalties and for enforcement by each enforcement authority as defined in regulation and provide in relation with legal proceedings (regs. 24-31). Regulations 32 and 33 specify requirements relating to the keeping of records and provide for the suspension or revocation of manufacturers' licences. (36 regulations completed by 2 Schedules)