Modernising meat inspection of pigs-A review of the Danish process from 2006-2020

In 2004, the European Union legislation allowed to change meat inspection of finishing pigs, raised under controlled housing conditions, pending use of risk assessment of the effect of the proposed changes. This paper summarises the process undertaken in Denmark, where a series of national risk assessments and epidemiological investigations were undertaken, in a stepwise approach to address specific needs due to trade requirements. The initial focus was to examine the visual-only inspection (VOI) in lieu of the traditional inspection method, which involves incisions and palpations of various organs. The objective was to understand what would be missed, how often, and what the consequences might be, if incisions and palpations would no longer be un-dertaken routinely. Next, the microbiological burden of pigs previously suffering from generalised diseases was evaluated. The work was undertaken in collaboration among the academia, industry, and veterinary authorities. The OIE (Office International des Epizooties, now World Organisation for Animal Health) approach to risk assessment was used, which involves steps of hazard identification, release assessment, exposure assessment, consequence assessment, and risk estimation. To inform the results of assessment, samples were collected from abattoirs and subjected to laboratory investigation. Furthermore, slaughterhouse statistics, literature, and expert opinion were used. It was concluded that VOI could safely replace traditional inspection, although some cases of endocarditis and embolic pneumonia would be missed. Today, VOI is in place for finishing pigs that are raised indoors. The information collected in this study has resulted in an update of the mandatory septicaemia-inspection at the rework area. Moreover, the Danish legislation has been updated; replacing mandatory de-boning of prior septicaemia cases with an own-check program involving targeted focus on predilection sites for abscesses during cutting.

Automated summary

This paper summarises the process undertaken in Denmark for changing meat inspection practices for finishing pigs, with a stepwise approach of national risk assessments and epidemiological investigations. The study concluded that visual-only inspection could safely replace traditional methods with some limitations. Collaborative work among academia, industry, and veterinary authorities was essential in this process.