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Meat Hygiene
Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene
The Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene (CCMH) is responsible for elaborating world wide standards and/or codes of practice for meat hygiene. The work of the committee relates to "meat" with a broad definition that encompasses poultry and other meats.Existing Codex Standards
Standards relating to meat* that have been endorsed and adopted into the international food code include standards on:- Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat
- Cooked Cured Chopped Meat
- Cooked Cured Ham
- Cooked Cured Pork Shoulder
- Corned Beef
- Fresh Meat
- Guide For The Microbiological Quality of Spices and Herbs Used in Processed Meat and Poultry Products
- Luncheon Meat
- Processed Meat and Poultry Products
- Poultry Processing
- Production, Storage and Composition of Mechanically Separated Meat and Poultry Meat Intended For Further Processing
- Use of Non-Meat Protein Products in Processed Meat and Poultry Products
- Use of the Term Halal
Outcomes of the 28th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
The 28th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, held 4- 9 July 2005, adopted the proposed draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat developed by the Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene. The following six existing codes were revoked as they are superseded by the new Code:
- Recommended International Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Meat (CAC/RCP 11-1976, Rev. 1-1993);
- Recommended International Code of Hygienic Practice for Game (CAC/RCP 29-1983, Rev. 1-1993);
- Recommended International Code for Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Inspection of Slaughter Animals and for Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Judgment of Slaughter Animals and Meat (CAC/RCP 41-1993);
- Recommended International Code of Hygienic Practice for Processed Meat and Poultry Products (CAC/RCP 13-1976, Rev. 1 (1985);
- Recommended Code of Hygienic Practice for Poultry Processing (CAC/RCP 14-1976); and
- Recommended International Code of Practice for the Production, Storage and Composition of Mechanically Separated Meat Intended for Further Processing (CAC/RCP 32-1293)
The CAC also revoked the General Principles for Meat Hygiene (CAC/GL 52-2003), which are included in Section 4 of the Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat and were adopted at the Commission's 26th Session.
* This is an indicative list only. For a full list of standards approved by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, please consult its Official List of Standards.
Last Meeting
The Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene held its 11th Session in Christchurch, New Zealand, from
14 -17 February 2005. At this meeting, the Committee:
- finalised and agreed to forward the draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat to the 28th Session of the Commission for adoption at Step 8
- agreed to request the Commission to revoke the following Codex texts: Recommended International Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Meat (CAC/RCP 11-1976, Rev. 1-1993); Recommended International Code of Hygienic Practice for Game (CAC/RCP 29-1983, Rev. 1-1993); Recommended International Code for Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Inspection of Slaughter Animals and for Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Judgment of Slaughter Animals and Meat (CAC/RCP 41-1993); Recommended International Code of Hygienic Practice for Processed Meat and Poultry Products (CAC/RCP 13- 1976, Rev. 1 (1985); Recommended Code of Hygienic Practice for Poultry Processing (CAC/RCP 14-1976); Recommended International Code of Practice for the Production, Storage and Composition of Mechanically Separated Meat Intended for Further Processing (CAC/RCP 32-1293) as superseded by the draft Code, and
- agreed to request the Commission to revoke the General Principles for Meat Hygiene (CAC/GL 52-2003) adopted by the 26th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which were included in Section 4 of the draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat.
Download the report from this meeting
Next Meeting
At the 11th Session of the Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene the Committee noted that it had accomplished the work assigned to it by the Commission and agreed that, until such a time as the Commission would require it to undertake further work, it should remain adjourned sine die.