§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they propose to allow the Food Standards Agency to use EC directives to justify extra charges from the Meat Hygiene Service on small and medium abattoirs before an appeal process has been instituted. [HL757]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)We are advised by the Food Standards Agency that it intends to revise its proposals to give effect to the recommendations of the Meat Inspection Charges Task Force in the light of the views received from those consulted. In particular, it intends to propose that, if an occupier of a slaughterhouse does not agree with notification by the Meat Hygiene Service of an additional charge, the occupier may request that the 13WA dispute be settled by an independent person. Such a proposal would be in conformity with Council Directive 96/43/EC on the financing of veterinary inspections.