UK to Boost Fees For Meat Inspections
UK - Slaughterhouses in the UK could soon face an 8 per cent increase in hygiene inspection charges, under proposals made by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
20 November 2007
1 minute read
The new charges would represent a step towards increasing the level of charges for official controls at approved premises -- slaughterhouses, cutting plants and game plants
Food Standards Agency.
The charges are just the initial increase on the way to a full cost recovery for hygiene inspections at slaughterhouses and cutting plants.
More hikes are in the offing as the FSA continues to reduce the 60 per cent subsidy it estimates it makes to businesses in the current charges for inspections.
The FSA suggests a general increase in charges of 8 per cent would mean a maximum additional charge to a slaughterhouse of £14.14 per 100 cows, £7.35 per 100 pigs, and £2.83 per 100 sheep.
The FSA calculates that government currently subsidises the costs of official hygiene checks at meat premises by about £30m a year, about 60 per cent of the costs of the controls.
The new proposals would increase charges to businesses by approximately £1.5 million in 2008 and 2009.
"The new charges would represent a step towards increasing the level of charges for official controls at approved premises -- slaughterhouses, cutting plants and game plants -- towards full cost recovery while, at the same time, action is being taken by the Meat Hygiene Service to reduce the overall cost of those controls," the FSA stated.
Source: foodproductiondaily.com
