PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
FRESH MEAT (HYGIENE AND INSPECTION) REGULATIONS 1995 (16 March 1995)

That this House believes that the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulation 1995, at present laid before the House, are primarily intended to empower the meat Hygiene Service to take over from local authorities the responsibility for meat inspection and the supervision of hygiene in slaughterhouses; takes note that through the ability of the Meat Hygiene Service to set the level of fees, a risk-free business is proposed to be established with a turnover of ú40 million extracted from the meat industry and wonders about the interests involved; questions also whether the regulations are seen as a convenient device for enforcing rationalisation in the industry which would not be to the long term benefit either of the consumer or of standards of hygiene in the industry; strongly objects to their being laid before the House, despite a lengthy period of gestation, with such short notice before the intended start of operations by the Meat Hygiene Service, which it regards as a contempt of the House; can see no service advantage in the proposed system over the service currently provided by the local authorities; and therefore demands that the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995, be not enacted but that local authorities should retain their powers and responsibilities through the application of the Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992.

Sponsored by:
Mr Edward O'Hara (Labour)