Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Food Standards Agency reducing the discount rate for official control fees on abattoirs.

The meat charging rates for 2025/26 have been calculated and were published on the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) website on 28 February 2025. The 2025/26 Charges Guide and full details about the calculation of the FSA’s charges, including the discount applied, are available at the following link:

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/charges-for-controls-in-meat-premises

In February and March 2025, the FSA held stakeholder engagement sessions in Belfast, Cardiff and London. The sessions provided an opportunity for stakeholders to offer insight to help the FSA better understand the importance and value of the discount provided. Analysis of the information gathered at the stakeholder sessions is currently taking place. The key findings from both the stakeholder engagement and internal economic analysis are to be discussed by the FSA Board at its June 2025 meeting.