April 3, 2008

UK increases hygiene and animal welfare inspection costs
 

From this week onwards, the UK have increased charges for official hygiene and animal welfare checks at slaughter in meat businesses.

The checks are carried out by the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), and charges are up 8 percent, which means a maximum additional charge to a slaughterhouse of GBP 5.6 per 100 sows, GBP 2.8 per 100 pigs and GBP 16.9 per 100 tonnes of meat.

About 60 percent of the costs of official hygiene checks are provided by the Food Standards Agency, which has paid more than GBP 30 million per year and GBP 190 million since 2001. The new rates would increase charges to businesses by about GBP 1.5 million.

The move is part of an effort of full cost recovery, which will be implemented over several years to enable meat businesses to adjust and to coincide with planned cuts in MHS costs.

The aim is to keep charges increases at the lowest level possible, and the FSA will take in feedbacks from meat operators and farmers to ensure that future charges will be fair and reasonable, and will support the businesses that require additional assistance.

The FSA is currently developing future charging proposals with the help and advice of industry bodies and government departments. The proposals will be issued for public consultation as soon as it is completed.

GBP 1 = US$1.9 (April 3, 2008)