Specified Risk Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 (S.R. No. 552 of 1997).

These Regulations control specified risk material, being material, which may contain the agent containing bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in respect of food. The Regulations implement in part specified Community legislation. The Regulations control the sale and use of specified risk material for human consumption (reg.6) and the production of mechanically recovered meat (regs.7 and 8). Provision is made for the initial treatment of specified risk material (regs.9, 10 and 13) and the rendering of whole carcases (reg.11). The Regulations prohibit the removal of the brain and eyes from a bovine animal (reg.14) and prohibit the removal of the spinal cord from a ruminant animal (reg.15). Regulations 16 to 19 provide particular requirements in relation to sheep and goats. These are the marking of young animals with a young lamb stamp, requirements as to the transport of unmarked carcases of sheep and goats, the presence of official veterinary surgeons at slaughterhouses and the possession of unmarked carcases of sheep and goats. Regulation 21 regulates the consignment of specified risk material once it has been removed from the carcase and regulations 22 to 24 require the approval of collection centres, incinerators, rendering plants and other premises that process specified bovine material. Regulations 25 to 31 contain provisions on veterinary and laboratory premises, directions, transport storage, samples, enforcement, etc.