July 25, 2007

Meat inspection changes in UK lauded

British meat producers have welcomed the amendments in meat hygiene regulations with the regulations aligning with that of the restaurant chains. However, the National Farmers Union (NFU) has also expressed concern about the implementation of both full cost recovery and cost sharing.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) board has decided to adopt a more risk and evidence-based approach to regulation, inspection and enforcement under a transformed Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), provided it meets a series of financial and performance targets.

NFU Vice President Paul Temple said it is vital for producers that inspection costs and controls are reduced as these are always passed back down to the primary producer and that further reduction in the current farm gate price will shake the supply of meat.

He said local authorities can play a key role in providing solutions at small local plants to help ease the cost burden on these vital plants as well as removing barriers to increase the use of Plant Inspection Assistants in the poultry sector to reduce the cost burdens to the processors.

The NFU added that collaboration between the NFU, the FSA, and MHS will be needed to achieve European Union regulatory change, although there will be some time constraints.

The NFU sees changes in the European regulations as a priority because they say this could reduce costs to food business operators by 70 per cent.

Temple said producers should be aware in the implementation of changes to enlighten issues that surround it.