UK invites meat research projects, details hygiene control costs

The food safety watchdog has also issued more information on how it calculates inspection costs at meat plants.

Research​

The agency said the driving force behind the call for research was to boost food safety in the sector by adopting a more “risk and evidence based approach to meat production”. The Future Meat Controls Research Programme has been highlighted as a priority under the FSA’s 2010-15 strategy.

The body said the fours areas of research needed are:

• An evaluation of food chain information, and collection and communication of inspection results for all species.

• Trialling the visual inspection for fattening pigs from non-controlled housing conditions.

• A qualitative risk assessment of visual inspection of red meat and farmed/wild large game (all ages and species other than swine).

• Trialling the use of a plant inspection assistant in approved game handling establishments (small and large wild game).

“This programme of work will contribute to the strategic outcome that regulation is effective, risk-based, and proportionate, is clear about the responsibilities of food business operators, and protects consumers and their interests from fraud and other risks,”​ said the FSA.

Proposals should be sent, to be received by 5.00pm on Wednesday 6 April 2011 to SFN_Erzvaq@sbbqfgnaqneqf.tfv.tbi.hx​

For more information on preparing submissions on how to apply to take part in the research programme click HERE​

Meat hygiene control costs​

The FSA this week has also issued extra information on costs of delivering meat hygiene official controls to provide an insight for industry players on how charges are calculated.

Currently, industry only pays part of the costs, with the rest covered by various parts of Government, including the FSA. The agency highlighted that following a consultation process, it is mulling proposal that would see industry pay the full control costs – other than those plants with low throughput.

The new data, which takes into account the merger of the Meat Hygiene service with the agency in April 2010, show the costs of covering both meat hygiene inspectors and veterinary charges – including hourly rates.

These charge-out rates are used to determine the monthly bill for each meat plant, although the vast majority of plants currently have their bills discounted so they do not pay the full rate, said the FSA.

To see the presentation, which is being presented to the Meat Hygiene Charging Stakeholder Group this week, click HERE.​

Following this meeting, the full breakdown of costs will be published in a single document.