Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support she is providing to abattoirs; what assessment she has made of the potential impact on abattoirs of the charges from the Food Standards Agency; and what discussions she has had with (a) representatives from abattoirs; (b) the Department for Health and Social Care; and (c) the Food Standards Agency on the potential implication for her policies of the judgement in [2026] EWHC 1327 (Admin).

Food safety is non-negotiable. Vets and Meat Hygiene Inspectors carry out essential work every day that protects public health, upholds animal welfare, and underpins the £11.3 billion meat industry. The ruling does not challenge the principle of inspection charging. We know businesses will want clarity on what this will ultimately mean in practice, the FSA will provide further information as quickly as the legal process allows.

Defra engages regularly with other government departments and stakeholders across the farming, food and abattoir sector on matters within the Department’s remit.