Inspection contract termination cheered by meat wholesalers

A decision by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to terminate the contract given to a private firm to carry out carcase inspections in abattoirs has been welcomed by the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW).

Reacting to the decision to withdraw the contract from Hallmark Veterinary and Compliance Services, SAMW president, Andy Mcgowan, said that everyone could now focus on how the official controls procedure was run rather than who ran it.

“Our principle concern has always focused on the need for member businesses to be provided with a service which is 100 per cent effective and flexible with all inspection staff being deployed in the most efficient manner possible.”

The meat processors claimed the red meat sector already carried a heavy cost burden for meat inspections which many competitive food processors did not face.

This put them at a financial disadvantage in terms of applying the same inspection rules and costs across all food processing areas. Another claim by the meat processors was that Fsshadf ailed to ensure that the inspection procedure was run on the most costeffective basis possible.

“We have repeatedly stated that any available vet and meat inspection resource which is found to be surplus to our fluctuating business needs should be made more nimble, allowing all underdeployed resources to be immediately reallocated to undertake public health inspection requirements in other food businesses and industries.”

SAMW believed the old system was inflexible and rigid and resulted in an in efficient use of public funds.

The new system with Food Standards Scotland managing the inspection service will commence in three months’ time.