Speaking on the BBC’s Farming Today radio programme AIMS veterinary director, Peter Hewson, has warned that the Food Standard Agency’s proposed changes to increase OV and inspectors would: “Single-handedly destroy the foundations of the meat industry.”
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a “call for evidence” on the proposed changes, saying that the costs of providing inspectors and official veterinarians (OVs) have increased and that needs to be passed onto businesses.
In 2009 FSA changed from a headage-based system to a time-based system. Hewson said: “We have now got to a stage where our companies are paying so much more than the equivalents in Ireland.”
He cited some calculations done last month: “A medium size slaughterhouse here would be paying around £3,000 a month. In France or Ireland the equivalent would be paying about £800 a month. The full cost, without the discount would be about £8,000 a month and FSA is saying it’s going to increase its costs considerably next year with the new contract. So, if the discount went a plant would be looking at paying 10 times as much as a similar plant in France or Ireland. It’s just not possible for them to survive on that sort of payment.”
Hewson went on to explain that there had been a worldwide move to make the system more risk-based because “meat inspection is really little more than quality control but of course meat is traded on the basis that everyone does the same and so it’s very difficult for one country to move and still maintain its trading position.”
However, he pointed out that Australia had taken its inspection regime back in house and that poultry plants in the UK are able to conduct their own inspections, albeit with an OV present to ensure welfare standards are maintained.
He also called the FSA: “Deeply bureaucratic and inefficient with multiple layers of management idling and administrative processes adding unnecessary costs.
FSA response
In response the FSA’s policy director, Rebecca Sudworth was keen to emphasise that its “call for evidence” was a consultation process. She said: “Each year we work very closely with the meat industry and other stakeholders on the setting of charges for the year ahead.
“The costs of recruiting and retaining vets has also risen. We have been really honest about the fact that costs will rise next year.”
On the comparison made with EU plant costs she said she: “Could not comment on costs in EU countries.”
Asked whether FSA would consider moving to a more risk-based system Sudworth said: “That’s not for now.”
The consultation process closes on 24th October 2024.
