Written question asked by Christopher Gill (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 1 May 2001. It was answered by Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 May 2001 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice he has given abattoir operators regarding meat inspection charges post 1st April. - Includes ref to letters from Food Standards Agency and Meat Hygiene Service in Library at www.foodstandards.gov.uk. (Holding answer 23 March 2001). (Dep 01/758).

Answer: Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given abattoir operators regarding meat inspection charges post 1 April. [155114] Ms Stuart: [holding answer 23 March 2001]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that a copy of their proposals for changes to the meat inspection charging system from 2 April 2001 in order to implement the recommendations of the meat inspection charges task force was sent to all licensed meat plant operators in Great Britain in January 2001 as part of the FSA's public consultation exercise. Subsequently, the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) wrote to all plant operators on 29 March 2001 to inform them of the outcome of the consultation exercise and to provide details of the revised charging system to apply from 2 April. The letter also provided the contact details for MHS regional customer liaison officers should plant operators require further information. The FSA also wrote to meat industry representative organisations on 2 April 2001 with a summary of the comments received during the consultation exercise, together with the FSA's response, and with details of the new charging system. These letters are available on the FSA website, www.foodstandards.gov.uk, and I have also arranged for copies to be placed in the Library. The revised meat inspection charging system came into effect, as proposed, on 2 April 2001.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 367 c568-9W; 155114
Session: 2000-01
Related items: Deposited Paper Dep 01/758
Friday, 11 May 2001
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects: Fees and charges Inspections Hygiene Meat Slaughterhouses Meat Inspection Charges Task Force
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk