Devon abattoir OTM suspension lifted

Slaughtering of Over Thirty Month cattle restarted at West Devon Meats yesterday, six weeks after Defra suspended the abattoir's licence over alleged irregularities in brain stem labelling.

An extra senior veterinary inspector has been brought in to oversee the abattoir's working practice, said a spokeswoman for Defra.

Animal health minister Ben Bradshaw said the decision to lift the suspension had been taken in record time, without compromising the safety of the human food chain.

"Defra has worked very hard with the Meat Hygiene Service and West Devon Meats to ensure that commercial activity at the plant could resume as quickly as possible."

The FSA . which has been investigating alleged malpractice, will decide if there are grounds for prosecuting the Devon company, said a spokeswoman for Defra.

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