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Proposal to phase in charges for controls on the removal of Specified Risk Material (SRM) and for revised charging arrangements for meat hygiene controls

Thursday 25 May 2006

The Agency seeks comments on possible changes to the current charging arrangements for meat hygiene controls and the possible introduction of charges for SRM controls. Please note that there will be a full, formal, consultation later in the year, but we would welcome your initial views at this point to help inform and develop options for further consultation.

All comments and views should be sent to:

Mrs Olukayode Odukoya

Meat Hygiene Business Branch
Food Standards Agency
Room 315b, Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6NH

Fax: 020 7276 8311
E-mail: olukayode.odukoya@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

Responses are requested by: 7 July 2006

Summary of responses is now available

PDF Document (pdf 175KB)

Consultation details

The issues on which we would welcome your comments, include:

SRM charges

Meat hygiene charges

In general terms, the above issues can be divided into two broad themes. The first is a proposal to move closer to full cost recovery by charging a higher proportion of the costs of the meat hygiene and SRM controls that are carried out by the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) in Great Britain and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Northern Ireland.

This reflects the view of the FSA that, as a general principle, it is inappropriate for the FSA to subsidise business and that FSA expenditure should be aligned more closely with strategic priorities. In moving closer to full cost recovery we recognise that control costs must be kept as low as possible, and reduced where possible, to limit the chargeable costs. As part of this the FSA plans to review the level of SRM controls to take a more risk-based approach to enforcement.

The second broad theme is whether the current charging system for meat hygiene controls should be maintained and, if so, whether and how the system might be adjusted to comply with EU requirements and whether other changes might be made to simplify the system.

This is the first stage of developing policy on these issues with stakeholders and will be followed by full public consultation later in the year. It is anticipated that a public consultation on the finance provisions of the OFFC above will be launched in June with a further consultation on the remaining issues to follow in late summer/early autumn.

Attached below are the appendices to the written conultation that provide details of the issues about which we are seeking comments.

Further information

This consultation has been prepared in accordance with the (External) HM Government Code of Practice on Consultation , which states that a consultation must follow better regulation best practice, including carrying out an Impact Assessment (Regulatory Impact Assessment in Scotland). The assessment is included in the consultation documents.

We are interested in what you thought of this consultation and would therefore welcome your general feedback on both the consultation package and overall consultation process. If you would like to assist us to improve the quality of future consultations, please feel free to share your thoughts with us by using the consultation feedback questionnaire.

Download word Consultation feedback questionnaire  (Word)

Download pdf Consultation feedback questionnaire  (pdf)

Publication of personal data and confidentiality of responses

In accordance with the FSA principle of openness our Information Centre at Aviation House will hold a copy of the completed consultation. The FSA will publish a summary of responses, which may include personal data, such as your full name. Disclosure of any other personal data would be made only upon request for the full consultation responses. If you do not want this information to be released, please complete and return the Publication of Personal Data Form. Return of this form does not mean that we will treat your response to the consultation as confidential, just your personal data.

Download word Data protection form  (Word)

Download pdf Data protection form  (pdf)

Publication of response summary

Within three months of a consultation ending we aim to publish a summary of responses received and provide a link to it from this page.

If, after three months, the summary is still not showing, please contact the person who was responsible for the original consultation. Alternatively, you can contact the FSA Consultation Co-ordinator by email: consultationcoordinator@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

Related links

Proposal to phase-in charges for controls on the removal of specified risk material (SRM) Download the detailed appendices

Download pdf  (pdf 83KB) (External) Get Adobe Acrobat reader You may need the free Acrobat Reader to view a pdf

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