FSA Consultation Letter, 11 April 2006

MEAT HYGIENE - Proposed changes to veterinary supervision arrangements within the Meat Hygiene Service

These proposals enhance veterinary supervision arrangements within the MHS, and follow publication of an MHS paper setting out possible options. Responses are requested by: 7 July 2006

Note: The following documents are available on this site:

• Proposed changes to veterinary supervision arrangements within the Meat Hygiene Service - Consultation letter, list of consultees and further background
• Veterinary supervision arrangements within the MHS - MHS Report 2006
• Review of options for provision of Veterinary Surgeons within the MHS - Report from DNV Consulting

Consultation details

Development of these proposals has been informed by recommendations in the Wall Report and the subsequent two reports commissioned by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) / MHS from DNV Consulting (with the second of these also published today) and the Independent Advisory Group's (IAG) requirements relating to the Over Thirty Month (OTM) rule change.

The MHS Management Board has identified a number of options for improving veterinary supervision arrangements within the MHS and has indicated a preferred option. These options are set out in the attached MHS paper which has been approved by the MHS Board for consultation. The preferred option principally involves in the short-term:

• continuing to work through our contractors to provide Official Veterinarians in slaughterhouses and game handling establishments, but with technical management and supervision of these Official Veterinarians by MHS-employed Area Official Veterinarians
• audits of Food Business Operators' food safety management systems in slaughterhouses and game handling establishments (and at co-located cutting plants) continuing in most cases to be undertaken by the Official Veterinarian responsible at these premises, supervised by the Area Official Veterinarian
• Area Official Veterinarians will carry out audits in most stand-alone cutting plants and will have ultimate responsibility for the standard of official controls in all establishments, subject to veterinary control
• a re-alignment of other veterinary support roles within the organisation to better meet business needs, with resources transferred either to the new Area Official Veterinarian role or to the Veterinary and Technical Directorate, for the provision of supervision, enhanced instructions, advice, training and support
• establishment of a clear veterinary and technical reporting line to the MHS Veterinary and Technical Director and in turn to the FSA Veterinary Director and the Government's Chief Veterinary Officer

A further review of arrangements would be carried out by the end of 2007, looking to requirements for the longer term, with the intention that the MHS should eventually move to a largely (40 - 50%) employed Official Veterinarian workforce.