The move is in line with an EU policy to begin charging industry for food safety regulatory services, a policy which member states are beginning to implement.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said this week it supported the seven key recommendations made in a review of how it regulates the meat industry.

At a meeting, the FSA board endorsed the principle that meat hygiene regulation should be aligned more closely with the regulation of the rest of the food chain. The board also adopted a more 'risk and evidence-based' approach to regulation, inspection and enforcement.

The changes would require the FSA to work more closely with the European Commission and other member states, to gather evidence as a basis for future changes in the EU approach to meat hygiene regulation.

The FSA's Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), which oversees the sector, will be reorganised to reflect the policy changes. The changes would include an audit and inspection regime, to ensure consumer protection is maintained. The aim will be to give the MHS more independence from the FSA. The board said it would make a decision on the proposal in the spring of 2008.

The board also agreed to establish an advisory body to implement the agreed fee changes. They also approved a agreed that the FSA and MHS should work with the poultry sector to remove barriers to the greater use of plant inspection assistants on site.

Deirdre Hutton, the FSA chair said the FSA and MHS would work to improve their working relationships with the relevant government departments to promote meat safety, and animal health and welfare across the food chain

Source: Foodproductiondaily.com