Singapore legislation
Clause 17
Clause 17
Owners and occupiers of licensed slaughter-houses to ensure that animals are fit for slaughter
(1)
It shall be the duty of the owner and occupier of a licensed slaughter-house to ensure —
that no animal which is diseased or which is, for any other reason, unfit for human consumption is slaughtered at the slaughter-house; and
that the carcase of any animal which, upon being slaughtered at the slaughter-house, is found to have any disease or to be otherwise unfit for human consumption is destroyed or disposed of in the prescribed manner.
(2)
The owner or occupier of a licensed slaughter-house who fails to comply with any of his duties under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
(3)
In any proceedings against the owner or occupier of a licensed slaughter-house for failing to comply with his duty under subsection (1)(a), it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove —
that until the animal had been slaughtered, he did not know, and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained, that the animal was diseased or otherwise unfit for human consumption; and
that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of such an offence by himself or by any person under his control.