The present Decree establishes sanitary measures for the production and placing on the market of meat-based products and other products of animal origin destined to human consumption or to be used for the preparation of foodstuffs. Article 2 provides, among others, the definition of "meat", "meat-based product", "product of animal origin" and "treatment". The Decree establishes the processing, storage, packaging and labelling methods allowed and the requirements and the procedure to be followed by the plant concerned in order to obtain the authorization to the production of meat based-products and other products of animal origin. After the recognition by the Ministry of Health, the plants are to be given an identification number, which shall be logged in an official list according to the provisions of article 8, paragraph 1. For the transport of meat-based products towards member countries or third countries article 5 requires a sanitary certificate to be issued at the moment of loading, according to the form attached (pls. see Annex D). The Decree makes provision for inspections of the plants to be carried out at two different levels. Article 7 establishes "self-inspection" procedures to be executed by the person responsible for the plant, which aim, "inter alia", at (a) the identification of the critical points; (b) the definition and implementation of methods for the monitoring and control of the critical points; (c) the control of cleaning and disinfection methods; (d) the keeping of records relevant to the self-inspection methods and to the results of the inspections; (e) the withdrawal from the market of products that could create a hazard to human health. Article 12 provides for the appointment of a veterinarian in charge of controls to be performed on a regular basis and attributes the following powers connected therewith: a) free access in every part of the plant; b) overseeing of books; c) verification of the compliance of the self-inspection procedures. The characteristics of said inspections, the frequency, the sampling and the microbiological analysis methods shall be established by decree of the Ministry of Health. 4 Annexes concern a) general requirements for the recognition of the plants; b) conditions specific to meat-based products; c) hygiene measures for the production of products of animal origin; d) specimen of the sanitary certificate relevant to meat-based products.