دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی توسعه کنترل رسمی در کشتارگاه ها از طریق حسابرسی داخلی - الزویر 2018

Abstract

In the European Union, competent authorities are obligated to arrange audits to ensure that the official control (comprising meat and food safety inspections) in slaughterhouses is performed according to legislation. Previous information on the functionality of these audits and on non conformities observed in the official control of slaughterhouses is limited. In this study, nonconformities of the official control of slaughterhouses and their correction were analysed from the internal audit reports of the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira. To further assess the benefits and needs for improvement of the audits, we conducted interviews with the chief official veterinarians (OVs) responsible for the controls in slaughterhouses and the auditors of Evira. According to our 38 results, non-conformities, especially in the inspection of intestines of bovines and swine, were common. Regarding food safety inspections, OVs should develop their documentation, perform the follow-up of the correction of non-compliances more systematically, and improve the enforcement, especially in smaller red meat slaughterhouses. Based on our results, internal audits appeared to be beneficial, as non-conformities in the official control were noticed, most non-conformities were corrected or corrective measures had been taken, and the audits were assessed as necessary by both the auditors and auditees. Our results can be utilized in improving the official control and audit procedures in slaughterhouses. In the future, the uniformity of meat inspection could be improved by auditing also differences in the rejections and their reasons between official auxiliaries in post mortem inspection.

Discussion

Our results show that non-conformities in inspection of the gastrointestinal tract, especially in palpation and possible incision of the gastric and mesenteric lymph nodes, were common in post mortem inspection of bovines and swine in Finland. These non-conformities had remained because their correction would have required expensive repairs to the slaughter line or recruiting of an extra OA. Similar nonconformities regarding inspection of the gastrointestinal tract and related lymph nodes have been observed commonly in other EU countries as well (Alban et al., 2011; EFTA Surveillance Authority, 2012). These results support criticism of authorities’ capacity to address non conformities and enable meat inspection to be performed according to the legislation. However, a recent study conducted in the United Kingdom concluded that especially palpation and possible incisions of the gastrointestinal tract and related lymph nodes of cattle, small ruminants, and swine have limited importance for public health (Blagojevic, Dadios, Reinmann, Guitian, & Stärk, 2015), and manual examination has been assessed to cause cross-contamination (EFSA, 2011; Nesbakken, Eckner, Høidal, & Røtterud, 2003; Pointon, Hamilton, Kolega, & Hathaway, 2000). OVs may have evaluated the contribution of the inspection of the gastrointestinal tract to be of lesser importance for meat safety, with this, in part, resulting in a lack of enforcement of the problems hindering proper inspection. Especially in situations where a shortage of inspection personnel existed, prioritization of control tasks has probably been necessary. However, when performing meat inspection according to legislation demands changes to the slaughterhouse structures or requires more OAs, OVs should receive support from their superiors to ensure that sufficiently effective control measures or actions are taken to reach compliance.