Technical Committee on Health – Sub Committee on Veterinary
Meat Hygiene Practices - Study Visit to a Slaughterhouse
Objectives
This action aimed to inform the Turkish Cypriot community (TCc) on the application of EU laws, regulations and best practices in the areas of animal transport, human management of animals, control and treatment through first-hand observation.
The Cypra slaughterhouse in the Greek Cypriot community (GCc) was identified and proposed as the study visit site, since it successfully adopted veterinary related EU laws, regulations and best practices. A team of eight people comprised of three Greek Cypriot experts and five Turkish Cypriot members participated in the study visit, which was conducted on October 30, 2019. The study visit was followed by an on-site brainstorming session at the slaughterhouse where participants had the opportunity to discuss their observations, experiences and recommendations.
Results
The study visit provided a platform for the TC participants to observe slaughterhouse best practices in the GCc and exchange knowledge and experiences with a view to improving practices in the TCc. Experiences and observations gained under this action will play a vital role in future improvements of slaughterhouse practices in the TCc.
The Action has further strengthened the cooperation and knowledge sharing between the GC and the TC professional communities, and contributed to the strengthening of the capacity of the Technical Committee as an effective inter-communal mechanism for identifying, planning and implementing projects and initiatives that foster mutual understanding and cooperation.