Meat Hygiene Service
The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) is responsible for the protection of public health and animal health and welfare in Great Britain, through proportionate enforcement of legislation in approved fresh meat premises.
We provide verification, audit, and meat inspection services in approved slaughterhouses, cutting plants, farmed and wild game facilities, and co-located minced meat and meat products premises. The MHS has a statutory duty to provide these services on demand, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
The MHS is an Executive Agency of the Food Standards Agency (FSA). It was first established as an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (now part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) on 1 April 1995, when it took over meat inspection duties from some 300 local authorities.
In autumn 2004, as an outcome of a Review of Roles and Relationships between the FSA and the MHS, it was agreed that the non-executive governance of the MHS should be strengthened.
As a result, the Meat Hygiene Advisory Committee was abolished and the MHS Board was created – under the Food Standards Act 1999 – as a sub-committee of the FSA Board.
Transforming the MHS
Plans to transform the MHS into a more efficient organisation that retains service delivery in approved meat premises throughout England, Scotland and Wales received the backing of the FSA Board in July 2007.
The Board supported seven key recommendations made in a Review of the Delivery of Official Controls in Approved Meat Premises, agreeing that Official Controls in Britain should be delivered by a tranformed MHS.
More information can be found at the link below.
Find out more
About the MHS
The MHS Board and MHS workforce protect public health and animal welfare in approved premises in Britain. Details about how to contact the MHS, or give feedback about its performance, and any current job vacancies are available. The MHS is committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity among its workforce.
MHS business publications
The MHS Strategic Plan sets out the direction that the organisation intends to take during 2005–2009. The Corporate Business Plans outline priorities for each business year and offer some insight into longer-term goals and objectives. Performance against corporate objectives is reported in the Annual Report and Accounts.
Performance and service standards
MHS performance in approved premises is subject to FSA audit. The MHS is committed to providing quality service to its industry customers and stakeholders and an annual industry satisfaction survey helps maintain customer service excellence recognised by the Charter Mark award from Government. The MHS aims to act in a sustainable way to enrich social and economic life of the communities it serves.
Animal disease outbreaks
Regular updates for food business operators on the impact of foot and mouth disease on meat production. Avian influenza and bluetongue updates are also listed as of interest to, among others, the MHS workforce, whose responsibilities during an outbreak include inspecting and recommending re-approval of affected sites that have been cleansed and disinfected to the satisfaction of the official vet.
MHS Manual for Official Controls
The MHS Manual for Official Controls provides details of the tasks, responsibilities and duties MHS staff and veterinary contractors undertake in approved establishments.
MHS Guide to charges for official controls
The MHS provides a range of services in approved meat premises across Great Britain. Some of these services are currently paid for by other Government departments, for example, checks on animal by product controls. Other services are charged to food business operators (FBOs).