Focus group scrutinise UK-wide review into meat processing plants

The challenge group appointed to provide scrutiny to the work of the review into meat cutting plants and cold stores have convened for the first time to oversee the progress made so far.

The group members were welcomed into their roles by Jason Feeney and Geoff Ogle, the chief executives of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) respectively.

Both chief executives outlined to the group the objectives of the review jointly launched in March by both UK food regulators to look in more detail at sites where meat is processed and stored in the UK. Teams from both organisations have been working together to gather available evidence on this sector of the food industry and scoping out where further gathering of evidence is required.

The group is chaired by Alexis Cleveland CB who was previously chair of the board for the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA). Other members of the group include:

  • Isobel Garner who previously held non-executive roles at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and currently as chair of the Wales Audit Office
  • Nigel Gibbens CBE who has worked in veterinary public health for over 30 years, including being the UK chief veterinary officer for almost ten years
  • Uel Morton who is the co-chair of the Scottish Food Commission and before that, chief executive of Quality Meat Scotland.

The review will provide regular updates to the respective FSS and FSA boards before final recommendations and delivery plans are presented in September 2018.

 

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