Approval of meat plants
Under food hygiene legislation that came into effect on 1 January 2006, meat plants require approval unless they benefit from specific exemptions.
Slaughterhouses, cutting plants and game handling establishments require veterinary control and must be approved by the FSA.
Any co-located cold stores, minced meat, meat preparation or meat products establishments are also approved by the FSA (when stand-alone, these establishments are approved by the local authority).
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Approved red, poultry, and game meat establishments
In this section you will find lists of meat establishments that are approved to slaughter and/or cut meat.
Cutting plants authorised to remove SRM bovine vertebral column
Vertebral column is specified risk material (SRM) in cattle older than 30 months and can only be removed in approved cutting plants which have been additionally authorised to do so under the TSE Regulations.
The end of butchers' shop licensing
Butchers' shop licensing is being withdrawn across the UK from the end of 2005. From 1 January 2006, all retail butchers will be subject to the new EC hygiene regulations that apply to all other retail and catering businesses.
Approved meat products, minced meat and meat preparation establishments
Lists of approved premises only for meat products and for minced meat and meat preparations are published here in Excel format and updated monthly.
Review of the FSA approvals programme for meat establishments in the United Kingdom
A review of the Food Standards Agency's meat establishment approval programme for the United Kingdom was carried out between October and December 2008.