Fury over inspections ruling

A COMBINATION of anger and disappointment met yesterday's decision by the Food Standards Agency to transfer the full cost of meat inspections on to the industry.

An NFU Scotland spokesman called the move "disappointing. It is estimated that it will add 25 million annually to processors' costs. He said: "There is little prospect of the livestock and abattoir sector absorbing the level of costs agreed by the FSA without casualties in the meat and farming industry."

Iain Anderson, the executive manger of the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, which represents more than 90 per cent of those working in the red meat processing sector, said the FSA was riding roughshod over those who opposed them.

He said his organisation would be seeking an early meeting with the Scottish Government secretary for rural affairs to follow up on the SAMW's proposal that Scotland sets up its own meat inspection service.