The Food Standards Agency has welcomed the European Parliament’s endorsement of proposals to change the regulations governing official controls in pig slaughterhouses.
The European Commission proposals for modernised pig meat inspection achieved a qualified majority of member state support in May this year.
The proposals will nonetheless allow the official vet to carry out incision and palpation, before applying the health mark, but only if data of provenance, previous inspections or visual checks indicate possible risks to public health, animal health or animal welfare.
Food Safety Committee MEPs, whose resolution was rejected by 368 votes to 268 with 13 abstentions, reiterated the importance of the role played by official vets.
In line with the standard EU process, the proposals were then put forward for scrutiny by the European Parliament and European Council. During the period of parliamentary scrutiny the changes were challenged by some MEPs. Today, the European Parliament voted to proceed with the change.
Liz Redmond, Veterinary Director at the Food Standards Agency, said: "I am very pleased with the outcome of the vote, which clearly supports the scientific evidence-based approach. The European Commission’s draft regulations on pig meat inspection will now be implemented as voted on by EU member states in May this year. The changes will better target public health risks and provide a more proportionate and risk-based inspection regime.
"There is no indication that the implementation date of June 2014 will change but we will confirm this in the coming weeks. We now need to work hard to meet the implementation date and will continue to engage with the FSA staff and contractors and the meat industry as we progress our programme of work."
