BMPA and AIMS, with support from the NFU, have won a hard-fought ruling in the High Court that has provided helpful clarification on what the FSA can lawfully charge for, both in terms of relevant activities and the personnel whose time can be charged for. Regular readers will be familiar with the twists and turns of this judicial review process, and BMPA members in particular have been keenly following the challenge.
We already have one of the most expensive and opaque charging systems for meat hygiene official controls, which impacts the industry’s competitiveness. Commenting on the judgment, John Powell, CEO of BMPA said: “The BMPA welcomes the judge’s findings which recognise and have exposed long-standing weaknesses in the FSA’s charging policy.”
Looking to the future, John Powell added: “We will now work closely with the FSA to ensure a fairer and more transparent system for the delivery of official controls can be quickly implemented going forward. The burden of FSA charges on our industry is significant when we are responsible for ensuring the country is fed, safeguarding food security and upholding the highest standards of food safety and animal welfare.”
We have published a note explaining the implications for processors along with the full text of this judgment on our members’ portal.
We are the UKs largest trade body for the meat industry and provide expert advice on trade issues, bespoke technical advice and access to government policy makers
We are proud to count businesses of all sizes and specialties as members. They range from small, family run abattoirs serving local customers to the largest meat processing companies responsible for supplying some of our best-loved brands to shops and supermarkets.
We are further strengthened by our associate Members who work in industries that support and supply our meat processing companies.
We are the voice of the British meat industry.
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