The Food Standards Agency has vowed to work more closely with the British meat trade to determine how plant inspections should be paid for.
The move comes after the watchdog initially proposed a full cost recovery regime, under which meat plan operators would have been liable to pay for inspections. But the proposal was rejected by the government in May.
At a board meeting today, FSA chairman Jeff Rooker said the agency was now moving into “a new chapter of collaboration with the meat industry”.
A paper prepared by FSA director of operations Andrew Rhodes, endorsed by the FSA board at today’s meeting, set out the agency’s key priorities in relation to its charging policy on meat controls.
They include protecting the interests of consumers and working more collaboratively with industry; setting up an external efficiency review through the National Audit Office; and continuing dialogue with government departments “on their appetite for taking on responsibility for allocating any ongoing subsidy”.
The paper recommended the FSA prioritise building “a more consensual approach” in three key areas:
- a review of the current discount system and possible reforms;
- working with industry to identify where costs can be reduced further without compromising consumer protection; and
- exploring “alternative delivery models” such as the use of a control body.
The paper suggested setting up a joint public and private-sector body, pointing out “the current Westminster government is supporting greater use of mutual organisations in the provision of public-sector activity”. However, it was “far too early to say” whether this would ultimately prove a feasible option for meat controls.
A timetable for the reforms will be drawn up following discussions with industry stakeholders, with an updated report to be presented to the FSA board in early 2013.
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