Explanatory note

These Regulations provide for local authorities to make a charge for every health inspection and control exercise carried out by them in respect of farmed game meat at a slaughterhouse, cutting premises, cold store, farmed game handling facility or a farmed game processing facility pursuant to the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992 (regulation 3).

There is an upper limit on the amount that can be charged by a local authority in respect of such health inspection and control exercises. That limit is £ 40 for the first four livestock units presented at a slaughterhouse on the same occasion for inspection. For any additional livestock units presented together with the first four, the limit is £6.30 per livestock unit. In all cases the amount that may be charged for a health inspection and control exercise must not exceed the real cost (regulation 4). A livestock unit is defined as 3 deer or swine (regulation 2(1)).

In calculating the real cost of carrying out a health inspection and control exercise at a premises a local authority is required to use the factors specified in the Schedule (regulation 5).

Before making a charge for a health inspection and control exercise under the Regulations a local authority is required to notify the occupier of the premises affected by such charge of the amount which it proposes to charge and to consider any representations made to it concerning the charge by any person whom it has notified (regulation 7). If the occupier considers that the authority has determined an amount in respect of the real cost of the exercise which is excessively high he may appeal to the appropriate Minister against it, and if the appropriate Minister is satisfied that this is the case, he shall require the authority to recalculate the amount of the charge in accordance with such directions as he may give it (regulation 9).