Huge cost increases by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) could render Scotland’s meat industry “uncompetitive” compared to the rest of the UK.
From 1 April, the FSS will increase the cost of provision for Official Veterinarians (OVs) by 20% and raise the cost of Meat Hygiene Inspectors (MHIs) by 17%.
This has been met with backlash, with the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) calling the changes “excessive and unacceptable”.
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SAMW president Ian Bentley said: “The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in England and Wales is, in contrast, raising its OV rate by 4% and MHI rate by 10%, leaving both charges well below the levels our members are being required to pay.
“If the FSS increases are allowed to stand without any abatement, they will impact our businesses, the staff our members employ and the wider farm-based rural economy from which we draw our raw materials.”
SAMW have already followed up with senior staff at FSS and written to the Scottish Government Minister for Public Health, Jenni Minto.
They say the planned increases will have a detrimental effect on the industry, and could jeopardise member businesses “competitiveness and sustainability”.
Businesses dealing with the fallout of these plans have already been seen, with one business owner saying he would never be able to negotiate a 20% rise with his customers and would not accept this approach from a commercial supplier.
“Individual members are shocked at the level of OV and MHI increases they are now facing, especially when compared to their own efforts to keep processing plant cost rises closer to the 4% level which FSA is achieving,” Mr Bentley continued.
While the SAMW understand the pressure on the FSS to absorb the Scottish Government’s civil service wage rise of 7% for 2023/24, they don’t understand why they should be made to pay.
“We are also seeking, even at this 11th hour, a postponement of the April 1st increases to allow the matter to be examined and discussed in greater detail than has been possible since the 20% and 17% figures were presented to us on March 7,” Mr Bentley concluded.
Whether the changes will come to fruition have yet to be seen.
