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Manual for official controls
Legal requirements and standards for approved meat establishments.
Once your premises have been approved, you will find the Manual for Official Controls (MOC) beneficial for further information.
The MOC describes the tasks, responsibilities and duties of our staff carrying out official controls in approved establishments.
Manual for Official Controls guidance
The Manual for Official Controls documentation is accurate as of 14 April 2025. Recent changes to the MOC can be found in the revision log.
Northern Ireland
The MOC describes the tasks, responsibilities and duties of DAERA officials carrying out official controls in approved establishments on behalf of us. This is maintained and updated by DAERA and can be found on their website.
References to EU legislation in FSA guidance
Directly applicable EU legislation no longer applies in GB. EU legislation retained when the UK exited the EU became assimilated law on 1 January 2024, published on legislation.gov.uk (Opens in a new window). References to any legislation in FSA guidance with ‘EU’ or ‘EC’ in the title (e.g. Regulation (EC) 178/2002) should now be regarded as assimilated law where applicable to GB. References to ‘Retained EU Law’ or ‘REUL’ should now be regarded as references to assimilated law.
For businesses moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, information on the Windsor Framework (Opens in a new window) is available on GOV.UK.
The Windsor Framework was adopted by the UK and EU on 24 March 2023. The Framework provides a unique set of arrangements to support the flow of agrifood retail products from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI), allowing GB standards for public health in relation to food, marketing and organics to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via the NI Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS).
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
Temporary Operational Instructions (TOIs)
Manual for Official Controls Revision Log Amendment 110
The following revisions to Manual for Official Controls documentation have been made as of August 5, 2025.
Chapter 2.1
- 2.1.12 Lines added to notify the poultry portfolio of the movement of flocks without Salmonella test results
- 2.5.1 Added farmers additional declaration
- 2.5.4 Updated VMD's cascade principle for unauthorised medication.
- Annex 18 Annex 2 from chapter 2.2 moved to 2.1 to become annex 18
Chapter 2.2
- 1.1.4 Clarification of what under the responsibility of the OV means and added the need to verify that MHI carries out tasks properly
- 1.2.3 Removal of inaccurate statement
- 1.2.3 Changed EU countries to competent authority
- 2.4.10 Changed to 2.4.8 and minor changes to the text to improve clarity and accuracy of the information
- 2.4.3 Clarified that the OV needs to carry out PM inspection of ES animals and removal of one paragraph
- 2.4.5 Clarification that a vet can carry out ES provided there is not a conflict of interest
- 2.4.7 Old text replaced by new more updated instructions
- 2.4.9 Moved to chapter 2.1 section 2.5.1
- 3.4.9 Clarification regarding the compulsory use of the AMI 2/4
- Assimilated before Regulation added throughout the chapter
- Annexe change to Annex in case of reference to regulations
- Annex 2 Moved to chapter 2.1 as annex 18
Chapter 2.3
- 3.1.5 Confirm need to record in day book if checks done remotely
- 3.3.1 Confirm that contact with LA should be with a brief message requesting call back
- 3.4.2 Remove reference to contact with VEDM
- 3.4.3 Amend reference to no fault score 4 verbal warning only
- 3.5.4 Amend letter to written advice
- 6.1.3 Clarify training for BO staff and emergency slaughter out of hours
- 6.3.3 Amend written confirmation to warning letter to CoC holder
- 7.1.5 Multiple entries alter "inspector" to OV
- 7.2.4 Remove reference to RAN and HIN and clarify entry is in Chronos
Chapter 2.4
- 7.1 updated links to condition cards and added missing card links
- 11.7 & 12.7 Adding instructions to complete the new Salmonella – Process Hygiene Criteria Application as part of the SHV checks
Chapter 2.6
- 3.4.7 Instructions to store TSE samples from DOA/DIL awaiting collection of weekly samples
- 3.16.2 Instruction to arrange a single collection for all the samples collected on the same week
Chapter 2.9
- 1.3.2 Removal of paragraph as no longer required
- 1.4.1 Changes to clarify inspection responsibilities
- 1.5 Insertion of additional section to clarify the earned recognition process
- 2.1 Slight wording changes to provide consistency with new recording app and guidance documents
- 2.1.1 Removal of paragraph as no longer correct
- 2.1.4 Removal of paragraph as repetition of 2.1.2
- 2.2.1 Slight wording changes to provide improved clarity
- 2.2.1 Addition to explain the use of the digital app for recording and scheduling of inspections with guidance documents on this added as an annexe
- 2.3.1 Removal of some elements of equipment no longer used
- 2.4 Wording changes to provide consistency with new recording app
- 2.4.13 Changes to clarify actions around water testing
- 2.5 Additional wording to clarify the need for professional testing
- 2.6 Changes to wording to reflect the new recording app
- 2.7 Removal of old compliance framework as this has been replaced with a new numerical scoring system, brief explanation of how this works and reference to the full guidance being included as an Annexe
- 2.8 Minor changes to clarify content
- 2.8.3 Explanation of actions when no FBO email address is provided
- 4.2 Alterations to reflect agreed changes in temperature/timing of RDM samples
- 4.5 Small changes to show the change from PHE to UKHSA and also language used for the recording app. Also changes on timings for sampling collection
- 4.5.5 Changes on temperature of milk for sampling and actions required and amount of sample to take
- 4.5.6 Changes on temp of samples (Finished Product Container)
- 4.5.7 Changes on temp during storage of sample
- 4.7 Removed as no longer relevant
- 5 General tidy up of the section, removing mentions about formal/informal enforcement and changing "warning letter" to "letter of advice"
- 5.3 Change reference to MS to GB
- 5.9.10 Updating procedures about downloading images from mobile camera or digital camera. linked to chapter 7
- 5.9.9 Changes to wording to reflect the correct procedures for collecting and storage of photographic evidence
- 6 Amendments on roles and responsibilities for dairy incidents, taking off mentions to FVL and FVC
- 7 Addition of new compliance framework guidance as Annexe 15
- 7 Addition of links to guidance documents for the new app as Annexe 5
- All Addition of word "assimilated" to make legislative references correct; removal of formal/informal mentioned; update warning latter by letter of advice.
Chapter 3
- 3.3.2 countries South Africa, Canada, Philippines and Hong Kong added
- 3.6.2 link to OV briefing notes updated
- Annex 4g Updated Form 5 Random Re-Inspection Checks
- Annex 4l1 Updated Form 10A pork daily weekly verification of FBO controls for export (Mexico section added)
- Annex 4l2 Updated Form 10B beef and lamb daily weekly verification of FBO controls for export (Mexico section added)
- Annex 5 Re-drafted Third Country audit report template added.
- Annex 7a Re-drafted Third Country Approval checklist Australia, pork. New checklist added
- Annex 7b Re-drafted Third Country Approval checklist Japan, pork, beef and lamb. New checklist added
- Annex 7c Re-drafted Third Country Approval checklist (Singapore, beef). New checklist added
- Annex 7d1 Re-drafted Third Country Approval checklist (USA, pork, beef and lamb). New checklist added
- Annex 7d2 Removed as covered in Annex 7d1
- Annex 7e Removed
- Annex e1 New GUIDANCE: Approval guidance and checklist to export meat products to the Republic of South Korea (RoK)
- Annex 7f2 Removed
- Annex 7f3 Renamed so South Korea annexes are together
- Annex 7g Add Third Country Approval checklist (China, pork)
- Annex 7h Add Third country approval checklist Coldstore
- Annex 9 Removed
- Annex 9a Re-drafted RMOP for USDA FSIS certified establishments beef added
- Annex 9b Re-drafted RMOP for USDA FSIS certified establishments lamb added
- Annex 9c Re-drafted RMOP for USDA FSIS certified establishments pork added
- Annex 13 Removed
Chapter 4.1
- hyperlinks throughout chapters updated
- Annex 1 (2.14) Clarified Specific requirements for gas stunning equipment for poultry - rise concentration of oxygen to no more than 5% is only applicable for gas mixtures 3 or 4 and corrected an error to clarify that 'No' poultry are to be shackled before they are dead
- Chapter 4.3
- 7 New section included in the chapter for Verification of procedures for the manufacturing of dry aged beef
- 3.4.4 Adding instructions to complete the new Salmonella – Process Hygiene Criteria Application as part of the SHV checks
- 5 Chapter title simplified, introduction edited
Chapter 5.1
- 2.12.3 Clarification regarding corrections in the sampling officer and witness box of the tamperproof bags
- 2.13.2 New instructions: Dispatch of residue samples where bag integrity is compromised during freezing
- 4 Clarification on how to complete the form for follow-up samples
Chapter 6
- 9.1 Amendment to reflect changes in establishments requiring designation and removal to references to restricted meat to align wording in chapter to the designation forms. Annex 30 A and B.
- 9.2 Updated instructions to follow when controlled meat is found in non-designated establishment
- 9.3 Removal of reference to compensation being paid
- 11 Minor wording changes to align wording to the designation forms Annex 30 A and B
- 12.2 Included reference to designation form for cutting plants
- 10.2.1 Removing reference to the withdrawal of OV flexibilities for bluetongue in slaughterhouses11.6.2 Included reference to designation form for cutting plants
- Annex 27 Removed, Replaced by: Annex27a : ND poultry Traceability details & Annex 27 b: ND red meat Traceability details.
- Annex 30 b. Version 2. Designation of cutting plants. Designation levels removed. Designation required to receive Controlled meat
Chapter 7
- 1.2.7 References to 2016/C278/01 replaced with 2022/C355/01
- Annex 15 Annexe 15 enforcement escalation guide clarified and EDP instructions expanded
- Annex 17 Annexe 17 EDP form amended with a new structure and more details
- Annex 18 References to 2016/C278/01 replaced with 2022/C355/01
Chapter 13
- 2.1 Insertion of additional bullet point clarifying the detail the FSA requires as part of an application for approval
- Volume 2 Page 9 paragraph 10.6 hyperlink updated
Revision log
Published: 11 April 2018
Last updated: 5 August 2025