Ante-mortem Inspection Unit

The Ante-mortem Inspection Unit under the Slaughterhouse (Veterinary) Section is responsible for monitoring the health（ante-mortem inspection）and animal welfare of food animals before slaughter in licensed slaughterhouses.

Purpose of Ante-mortem Inspection

Ante-mortem inspection aims to screen out suspected diseased or injured animals for isolation slaughter. This prevents contamination of premises, equipment, carcasses and personnel which would facilitate the appropriate control, disinfection and preventive measures taken to avoid the spread of diseases. Abnormal signs and conditions of the suspected food animals noted in ante-mortem inspection will be used to support the post-mortem inspection. It ensures that only meat from healthy food animals will be provided to the market.

Animal Welfare

The Ante-mortem Inspection Unit is also responsible for monitoring pre-slaughter animal welfare to ensure that live food animals are properly looked after and inhumane handling is prevented in the licensed slaughterhouses.