Risk Background

Butchers equipment includes the following items used in the slaughter, dressing or cutting of animals or animal carcasses: Knives, steels, scabbards, protective clothing, (shoulder aprons, capes, hats, overalls, boots and armoured gloves), saws and cleavers.

Butchers equipment also includes wooden blocks and boards. The animal disease risk associated with this equipment is extremely small given that the products must be clean and the products are only to be in contact with dead animals. BSE and other TSE risks have been assessed to be of negligible concern with these products for the same reason.

To address the wood borne pests and disease concerns refer to the manufactured wooden articles case in BICON. For further information contact the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and ForestryClient Contact Group Canberra.