FSA Board rejects meat inspection proposal

In its response to the Macdonald Farming Regulation Task Force Report and the 19 recommendations that related directly to the FSA, the Board agreed with all but one about setting up a group to consider the provision of meat inspection services by third parties.

However, members asked the FSA’s executive to bring a report to its September meeting on the evidence and issues that would help determine when and whether such a group could be usefully convened.

Currently under existing regulations, meat inspections across the EU are strictly regulated. In the UK they are the responsibility of the FSA as the competent authority.

Monopoly situation​

However, many in the meat industry argue that this monopoly situation is unnecessarily prescriptive and costly. There have been a number of recent calls for a change to EU law​ to enable a more risk-based approach to meat inspections.

The industry wants any revised meat inspection regime to be open to private third-party companies in a similar way to that operating in other high-risk sectors of the food manufacturing industry.

They argue this would substantially improve efficiency and reduce the high costs involved.

There is general consensus – within the FSA also – that a move to more risk-based inspections is desirable.

But the agency, unions representing meat inspectors and other consumer groups argue that the 'privatisation' of meat inspections would jeopardise food safety in high-risk meat production sectors.