Call to cut cost of safety
The meat processing industry has objected to escalating inspection costs following the decision by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board to abandon plans to privatise the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) in favour of its transformation.
Mark Adams, the newly appointed president of the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) which represents the UK's dwindling number of abattoirs and primary meat processors, criticised the above inflation 8% increased service charge.
"There is a need to stop talking about transformation and see more substantial action on the ground," said Adams, formerly the chief executive of George Adams, which was taken over by Tulip UK in October last year.
Adams took over the BMPA presidency from Tulip (UK) md Gerry Findley at the BMPA's AGM last month.
Many meat processors had hoped that privatisation of inspection services would bring competition, helping to reduce the costs of inspection. The FSA is to consult with the industry about future inspection charges later this year.
FSA chair Deidre Hutton said: "I recognise these are genuine challenges for the industry. Working in a co-operative way for a shared vision is much more important than sitting in our own camps and throwing rocks at each other."
Hutton added: "The Agency is committed to making regulation of the industry proportionate to risk."
l See feature p61.
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