The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has unveiled formal proposals outlining how it will target reduced support for regulatory charges at the smallest abattoirs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Under the proposals, which have been published for a 12-week consultation, would provide a 90% discounton the charges for small abattoirs, but there would be no support for large abattoirs.
Also under the proposals, in England and Wales:
- Over half of abattoirs would receive some support on a sliding scale.
- Nearly a third of abattoirs – those processing up to 1,000 LSU (Livestock Units) per year for red meat, or 150,000 birds annually for poultry / small game – would receive maximum support, with a 90% discount on charges. This is up 50% on the number receiving maximum support under the current system.
- Larger abattoirs would no longer be eligible for support.
The agricultural sector in Northern Ireland has a number of differences and the FSA is also seeking views on how best to reflect these in the support we give abattoirs in Northern Ireland.
The hourly rate for an Official Veterinarian will increase by 20.8% from April to £79.60 an hour or £165,500 a year. It means charges to industry as a whole are going to rise by £10 million in the coming year, a 24% increase, when inflation is 3%, according to the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), which has described the charges as ‘unlawful’, ahead of a legal challenge.
The FSA gives businesses a discount on its charges, but total funding for the discount is reducing – this year the meat industry received £14.9m in discount support, which will be reduced to £11.8m in 2026/27, 18% of the total estimated charges of £66m.
The agency said it recovers most of the costs of this regulation from operators, but smaller abattoirs can face a proportionately higher regulatory burden per animal than larger ones. The current discount system goes some way to address this, and the new proposals would better target that support, it added.
It said extensive engagement with industry and stakeholders highlighted the important role small abattoirs play in communities and consumer choice, including supporting farmers who specialise in rarer breeds and give the public the option to buy local. The revised proposals have been developed with these benefits in mind.
James Cooper, the agency’s edputy director of food policy, said: “Smaller abattoirs can play a vital role in local communities and the wider food chain, and these proposals would give the smallest businesses the certainty of maximum support.
“We’ve listened carefully to the sector since we began this work in 2024, and we’d encourage everyone with an interest to respond to this consultation. We remain committed to working across government to support the meat industry and make sure people have food they can trust.”