The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has published a report in which it suggests up to £22 million in potential savings could be made to benefit the UK meat industry.
The report, titled ‘A Strategic Review of Cost-Saving Opportunities in the FSA’s Meat Inspection System’, claims to have identified the potential savings after AIMS conducted an analysis of the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) current costs structure.
In a statement, Dr Jason Aldiss, executive director of AIMS, said: “We have known for a long time that the third-party contractor used by the FSA has failed to deliver the staff and levels of service that the contract requires, which has resulted in them receiving at least £1.7 million in additional payments without any sign of service improvements.
“Our analysis shows that there is a wasteful duplication of managerial structures between the FSA and its contractor that has been allowed to get out of control, almost certainly due to there being no effective ministerial oversight for many years.
“This has resulted in the meat and poultry processing sector being saddled with excessive charges, unnecessary and costly administrative burdens and a system that sets the UK at a disadvantage against other livestock processing countries.
“The UK’s meat inspection costs are significantly higher than in comparable European countries such as France and Ireland, with businesses paying up to four times more than their EU counterparts.”
“The FSA’s meat inspection system and associated costs have been allowed to rise unchecked.”
Jason Aldiss, AIMS
Aldiss concluded: “At a time when the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), which has ‘sponsorship’ of this arm’s-length quango, is looking to claw back wasted taxpayers’ money and the UK Government’s agenda is fixed on growing the economy through exports and trying to get inflation under control, the FSA’s meat inspection system and associated costs have been allowed to rise unchecked and we urge the Secretary of State to read our report and meet with us at the earliest opportunity.”
When asked for comment, Dr James Cooper, deputy director of food policy at the FSA said: “We are already aware of the conclusions in this document, and we think they are based on inaccurate assumptions. As there is an ongoing threat of legal action in this area we are unable to comment further at this time.
“In the meantime more information on charging for our Official Controls can be found on food.gov.uk.”
