The proposal by the Treasury department would allow the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to charge both large and small abattoirs the full amount for veterinary surgeons to be present in slaughterhouses.
Full rates for a veterinarian surgeon are usually around £90 (€133) an hour. Currently, small abattoirs pay a fixed fee for the inspection of individual animals.
This would be a significant setback for the 230-odd small abattoirs across the UK. These producers are key to supplying specialty Halal and Kosher meat and can slaughter as few as 30 to 40 animals a week.
Larger producers will be able to offset costs since they can slaughter up to 60 animals in an hour, but small producers would essentially be stuck paying for a veterinary surgeon for a non-proportionate workload, claims the group.
FPB spokesman Matt Hardman told FoodProductionDaily.com that employment of veterinary surgeons was due to a broadening of EU-driven inspection systems by the UK government. This stringent approach was likely adopted as a result of the intense public pressure during the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) scare, said Hardman.
"The problem is the interpretation of the EU legislation where they [the UK government] basically gold-plated the situation," said Hardman. "Instead of a literal translation, where the EU asks for veterinarians, we have veterinary surgeons which are more costly."
The FPB is in favour of changing the UK regulation for both large and small abattoirs. They feel that veterinary surgeons are not as qualified as meat inspectors who have the experience and technical skills required to conform to EU regulations, the group claims.
"If the standards are changed it should be to the benefit of all really," said Hardman. "If that means lightening the load on larger abattoirs then it should be done for the survival of smaller abattoirs."
Bob Salmon, the FPB's food advisor, said the importance of small abattoirs in the UK food industry would be undermined by the veterinary fees incurred.
"We don't need veterinary surgeons to be present, this cost cannot be justified, particularly in a small abattoir," said Salmon. "There may only be just over 230 small abattoirs left, but 60,000 farm and catering businesses depend on them."
The FSA has said that it is reviewing its policy but would not be refunding incurred costs during that process.
"The EU Regulations do require official controls to be carried out in slaughterhouses by fully qualified veterinarians," said an unattributed FSA statement. "However, they allow veterinarians to be assisted by official auxiliaries, and do not require the veterinarian to be permanently present in small slaughterhouses. The FSA is developing proposals, in consultation with key stakeholders, on possible changes to current charging arrangements for meat hygiene controls."