Egg inspector numbers cut
The number of egg marketing inspectors in England and Wales has been reduced in a Government shake-up of Animal Health. The Government claims the reduction in the number of inspectors will have no detrimental effect on inspection, although sources close to the organisation have told the Ranger that they are concerned about the implications of restructuring. They fear that the changes at Animal Health could increase the risk of fraud. BFREPA (British Free Range Egg Producers) chairman Tom Vesey said he was concerned about developments within the inspectorate.
Restructuring has reduced the number of inspectors in England and Wales from 26 to 24. Egg marketing inspection in Scotland operates separately. Despite the reduction in England and Wales, Animal Health insists that inspection will not be reduced. "The reduction in inspectors does not mean there will be a reduction in the amount of inspection work being done," said Adrian Rogers, external communications manager with Animal Health. He told the Ranger that a completely new set-up had been created. "There is no deliberate attempt to reduce the resources going into EMI. We are integrating EMI into the overall management structure," he said. "It is impossible to make a direct comparison with the organisation as it was because of the structural changes. EMI has been integrated into the Animal Health structure."
The Ranger has received two separate statements from Animal Health about the re-organisation of EMI. Together, they reveal that as well as a reduction in the number of inspectors there has also been a move to combine some functions across Animal Health. Some staff working on EMI also have other responsibilities.
Tom Vesey said he was concerned about both the reduction in the number of inspectors and the fact that some staff were not working exclusively for EMI. "We will have to see how things develop, but none of us want to see fraud and EMI is the only organisation in a position to combat it," he said.
In the first statement issued to the Ranger, EMI said that the new management structure, which was introduced in April this year, would continue to provide specialist technical support for EMI field staff. However, it did confirm our understanding that there was no longer a chief egg marketing inspector nor a deputy chief egg marketing inspector. It outlined the new management structure of EMI.
"A new technical services manager with specific EMI responsibilities is based at Animal Health’s centre of veterinary and technical expertise in Worcester," it read.
The Ranger asked whether the new technical services manager had other responsibilities other than EMI. We were told he did not. He was wholly concerned with EMI. The statement continued, "This post has been supported by two experienced regional egg marketing inspectors covering England and Wales supporting the network of egg marketing inspectors out in the field.
"Inspectors have continued to operate in their normal enforcement capacity under the new structure. In addition, a new post of head of regulatory affairs has been created at Worcester, part of whose responsibility will be to ensure consistency in delivery of Egg Marketing Inspectorate enforcement is maintained."
As a result of this first statement, the Ranger asked Animal Health a number of questions. We wanted to ascertain the size of the new EMI, whether it was being reduced and whether those working within the new organisation would be working wholly on egg inspection or whether they would also have other responsibilities. Animal Health subsequently issued a second statement.
It was this statement that confirmed the number of inspectors had been reduced. It confirmed the earlier statement that EMI was now being overseen by a technical services manager, although it added that he was supported by "two technical support (EMI) posts." The statement continued, "The TSM has broadly the same remit as the previous chief egg marketing inspector.
"In England, Animal Health operates from eight regional offices, each headed by a regional operations director (ROD), responsible for all aspects of operational delivery. Reporting to the ROD is one/two (depending on the size of the region) technical team leaders with responsibility for the management of egg marketing inspection work within their region.
"There are 24 dedicated EMIs, supported by admin teams based in Leeds and Taunton (and also by admin staff within each regional office)."
Whilst the teams in Leeds and Taunton are made up of specialist EMI support staff, staff in other offices are required to fulfil other roles as well as the EMI brief. The technical team leaders (about 10 in number) operating from Animal Health regional offices do not work exclusively for EMI. They are also responsible for things like dairy hygiene and animal health and welfare work.
EMI became part of Animal Health on April 1 2007. Until the recent reorganisation, EMI comprised a chief egg marketing inspector, deputy chief egg marketing inspector, four regional egg marketing inspectors and 26 inspectors. EMI also had a support unit consisting of an executive officer and administrative officer based at head office in London and at each of the four regional offices.
Animal Health says the recent reorganisation is in line with recommendations made by external reviewers.
