Meat Hygiene Service Performance Targets 2002/03

Friday 5 April 2002

Continued reduction of microbiological hazards in meat, and strict enforcement of BSE controls, are among the Performance Targets set for the Meat Hygiene Service for the 2002/03 financial year.

The high level targets were agreed and set by the Food Standards Agency Board at its meeting in Exeter on 14 March 2002, following full public consultation.

The targets are achievable but challenging, and are focussed on public health protection, animal welfare, training, diversity, customer focus, finance, and efficiency.

A number of targets have been carried forward from 2001/02, to enable year on year comparison in the important areas of reducing microbiological hazards in meat, enforcing BSE controls, protecting animal welfare, and operating with financial efficiency.

Targets this year require the MHS to:

• Fully enforce all the hygiene requirements of the various hygiene and inspection regulations;
• Fully apply the Clean Livestock Policy to reduce the risk of carcass contamination from dirty hides and fleeces;
• Enhance enforcement efforts in meat plants performing poorly on HAS scores;
• Take appropriate enforcement action against meat plants required to comply with domestic legislation implementing EU rules on HACCP and microbiological testing from June 2002;
• Fully enforce SRM controls and the OTM rule in licensed plants;
• Fully enforce the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations;
• Develop and implement a corporate training plan;
• Implement a diversity action plan for MHS staff;
• Improve delivery of service and customer satisfaction across the board.
• Operate within agreed resource budgets and total net cash management figure;
• Implement a pilot project on increased direct employment of veterinarians, to increase efficiency.

Performance against many of the targets will be through the results of audit visits conducted by the FSA's Veterinary Meat Hygiene Advisors (VMHAs).

Other targets will be assessed on the basis of reports required as part of the detailed assessment methodology.

As last year, the Board agreed on zero tolerance of critical failures – those which give rise to immediate, serious risk to public health, require immediate corrective action by the MHS, or permit an animal to sustain avoidable excitement, pain or suffering.

Audit results are published by the FSA, and performance against targets is reported in the MHS Annual Report and Accounts.

The full list of MHS Performance Targets, setting out issues and aims, assessment method, and consumer benefit / interest, together with a summary of the consultation results, are available on the FSA website at: food.gov.uk

Copies of consultation responses may be seen at the Dr Elsie Widdowson Library in the FSA's Headquarters in central London. For an appointment, please contact the Library and Information Services Enquiry Desk on
+ 44 (0)20 7276 8181, email:
Library&info@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk