Day 080 - 30 Jan 95 - Page 40

     
     1        standard.  I mean, people are human, and it is much, much
     2        better to have a national standard and a national control.
     3
     4   Q.   The EHOs, you said, were laymen who were trained in meat
     5        inspection and environmental health issues.
     6        A.  Well, I used the word "laymen" for EHOs and meat
     7        inspectors against a veterinary officer who has done
     8        another six years -----
     9
    10   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  They do not have a major professional
    11        qualification?
    12        A.  They have a qualification, sir.  They sit exams but not
    13        in comparison to a veterinary officer who has done six
    14        years on a degree course.
    15
    16   MS. STEEL:   They hoik things out the line they think there is
    17        something wrong with and then it is up to the LVO to check
    18        it out?
    19        A.  Yes.
    20
    MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Or just if they have a query, I would have
    22        assumed?
    23        A.  Ask the veterinary officer, yes, sir.  They are routine
    24        cutting, examining, checking the lymph nodes, glands, and
    25        if they see anything abnormal they will call veterinary
    26        officer.  If he is not available, they will put it into the
    27        detained line.
    28
    29   MS. STEEL:   The health certificates that come with the beef,
    30        are they per animal killed or are they per container or
    31        what-have-you?
    32        A.  Per load.
    33
    34   Q.   Per load.  Do you mean a truck load?
    35        A.  Yes, a truck load, a truck load of meat.
    36
    37   Q.   I wanted to ask you about the animal welfare policy of
    38        McDonald's which is in pink volume IX.  I do not know
    39        whether that is the one you have open.  Is that the right
    40        one?  It is tab 1, I think.  You said that you first saw
         this last year?
    42        A.  Yes.
    43
    44   Q.   Did McDonald's discuss this policy with you as they were
    45        drawing it up?
    46        A.  No, parts of it they did but not the whole document.
    47
    48   Q.   Had you seen a policy prior to this?
    49        A.  No.
    50 
    51   Q.   On welfare? 
    52        A.  No. 
    53
    54   Q.   So as far as you are aware, this was the first time that
    55        McDonald's had a policy?
    56        A.  I think the answer to that is, yes.
    57
    58   Q.   On welfare?
    59        A.  Yes.
    60