§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason a Regulation 10 (Prohibition) Notice was served ordering Mead Webber immediately to cease slaughter operations. [122065]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 15 May 2000]I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 (as amended) oblige the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) to appoint one or more official veterinary surgeons (OVSs) at every licensed fresh meat slaughterhouse in Great Britain to be responsible for the ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection and other health inspection duties.
Following an alleged assault on an OVS by a member of Mead Webber plant management and ejection of the OVS from the premises on 21 April 2000, a notice was served on the plant occupier under regulation 10 of the regulations at 7.44pm the same day. Regulation 10(1)(b) of the regulations empowers the OVS to serve a notice on the occupier when it appears to the OVS that adequate health inspection in accordance with the regulations is being hampered. The notice was served to prevent operation of the plant in the absence of the OVS until such time as unobstructed access to the plant by the OVS was permitted by the occupier.