The Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) will meet with the chief executive of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) in September to discuss a dispute over an increase in meat inspection charges.
SAMW said it will take a “calm and measured approach” to the dispute by meeting Stephen Flynn MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport in early September, as well as meeting with FSS chief executive Catherine Topley.
FSS announced its 2026/27 rates in March, giving businesses three weeks’ notice of an 8.6% rise in Official Veterinarian (OV) charges and a 10.4% increase in Meat Hygiene Inspector (MHI) rates. SAMW said this broke an earlier FSS agreement that future increases would be presented with sufficient time for proper discussion to take place before any new rates took effect.
SAMW members agreed collectively to continue paying for all FSS hours delivered but to calculate payments at 2025/26 charge rates, pending a promised Scottish Government meeting. Having been delayed by the Scottish Parliament election, that meeting is scheduled for 8th September.
FSS has issued final demands for the disputed balances, adding late-payment interest and warning that court proceedings may follow.
“The industry will not be intimidated by FSS instructing solicitors or threatening court action.”
Alan Brown, SAMW
SAMW president Alan Brown commented: “Instead of waiting a few more weeks for the meeting with the Cabinet Secretary, FSS pressed ahead with debt recovery action. Our members have never refused to pay for official controls. They have continued to pay for every hour of inspection delivered within their businesses. The dispute concerns the additional sums created by the new rates, which were introduced with inadequate notice and before political engagement took place.
“The industry will not be intimidated by FSS instructing solicitors or threatening court action. Members have taken a legitimate and collective position and will maintain that position until we have met the Cabinet Secretary. We remain willing to engage constructively. Escalation by FSS will not silence the industry or make these concerns disappear.”
The 2026/27 charges include a 16.3% increase in indirect costs by FSS. SAMW stated that businesses “cannot be expected to absorb increases of this scale without adequate notice, transparency, or clear evidence” that every opportunity for efficiency has been pursued.
SAMW expressed its concern that FSS was “effectively free to determine the costs it allocates to industry, while also controlling the service model and the evidence used to justify those costs”. It stated that there was no independent mechanism to test whether the costs being passed to business were efficient, necessary and proportionate.
Brown continued: “Cost recovery cannot be a blank cheque. FSS should not be both judge and jury of its own charging decisions without questions being asked about its own efficiency.
“SAMW is calling for an independent adjudicator to be appointed with the authority to scrutinise the costs allocated to industry, assess whether FSS is operating efficiently and proportionately, benchmark its performance and require meaningful improvement.
“We fully support strong, independent official controls that maintain confidence in Scotland’s red meat sector. Independent regulation, however, should not mean freedom from scrutiny or accountability.”
FSS responds to SAMW criticism
A spokesperson for FSS said: “FSS recognises the pressures facing Scotland’s meat sector and remains committed to constructive engagement with industry. Scottish Ministers already provide significant financial support towards the cost of official controls and no Scottish meat business pays the full cost of the service.
“The charging model was codeveloped by the meat industry and FSS and the 2026/27 charges were calculated under the established charging model and remain payable. Where a specific billing error is identified, FSS will investigate it. FSS will seek further independent assurance of the efficiency and transparency of the charging model through Scottish Government Internal Audit and Assurance.
“FSS continues to engage with SAMW and is considering the appropriate next steps on debt recovery.”
