Food tests threat to small firms

More than 21m in charges could be passed onto livestock producers as part of a plan to make the industry pay for food hygiene inspections

The proposal comes from the Government's food watchdog the Food Standards Agency, which is now consulting the public on the matter.

The FSA is suggesting that abattoirs meet the full cost of meat hygiene inspections as part of cost saving measures.

However the Association for Independent Meat Suppliers said the move will harm farmers and the local food industry, including butchers, farm shops and farmers' markets who will have to pay for the increased costs. Norman Bagley, policy director for the association, said consumers would also struggle to buy local meat.

The National Farmers Union's livestock board chairman Alistair Mackintosh said the news was "very concerning for the livestock industry, especially farmers who will undoubtedly face the brunt of the charges.

"The FSA has admitted that the majority of the costs will be placed back on the producer."

The FSA said it was committed to reducing the cost of delivering meat official controls over the next four years with no inflationary increases.