Manual for official controls

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 3 April 2023. Recent changes to the MOC can be found in the revision log.

Manual for Official Controls revision log

The following revisions to Manual for Official Controls documentation have been made as of 3 April 2023.

Chapter 2.1

• Section 2.1 Table of Salmonella requirements in FCI restructured for easier reading. 
• Annexes 8 to 17 added. 

Chapter 2.3

• Section 1.2.5 added instructions on the use of DAMS for sharing evidence with APHA and LA
  Section 2.1.1 link to Annex 16 SOP guidance added
  Section 2.1.2 reference to WATOK Schedule 2 amended to Schedule 1
  Section 3.3.1 added advice for OV to raise awareness of transport non-comps with FBO and haulier
  Section 6.2.2 added reference to NEX device used for mechanical cervical dislocation
  Section 6.2.3 added addition types to column A cattle to clarify species
  Section 6.3.5 removed reference to review of suspension / revocation and clarified role of FVL in CoC suspension reviews.
  Section 7.1.4 clarified actions following an appeal to FTT on a WEN
  Sections 7.1.5 and 7.1.6 swapped with each other
  Section 7.2.3 removed references to “prosecutable” non-compliance
  Section 8 revised the title of Annex 17 from "Questions and Answers ..." to "Q and A ..." and added new annex reference - "Annex 21 Digital Asset Management System (DAMS) user guide"
  Annex 2(b) revised wording to align with legislation and clarify 14-day review instruction
• Annex 2(c) revised wording to align with legislation and clarify 14 day review instruction
• Annex 21 submitted new annex 21 (DAMS user guide)

Chapter 2.4

• Section 2.4.5 Legal references corrected
• Section 5 updated contact details for the lab and SLA for Trichinella testing

Chapter 2.7

• Section 3.3.15 Minor change in the wording to improve clarity.

Chapter 2.8

• Section 3.2.15 Procedures to handle request for ABP to be used for research and educational purposes
• ABP 7/1 ad ABP 7/3 updated
• ABP 7/1 moved to ABP chapter so both forms are on the same chapter. 

Chapter 4.1

• Section 1.1.4 Adding the possibility to carry out remote Partial Audits on the definition
• Section 4.9 added on Remote Auditing (for Auditors)

Chapter 4.3

• Section 3.3.5 Section deleted as instructions to provide Salmonella positive results to VMD are obsolete
• Annex 2 removed.

Chapter 5.2

• Sections 1.1.2, 2.3.1 and 2.4.1 minor errors corrected.
• Section 2.1.4 Changed reference from Annex 4 to Annex 5 
• Section 2.7.3 Inserted reference to instructions in Annex 4
• Section 2.7.5 Changed reference from Annex 4 to Annex 5

Chapter 6

• Section 7.9.5 replaced the email address to submit Annex 22- Material for DNS analysis; removed the reference to "faxing" the annex, as obsolete
• Section 7.12.1 Clarified that samples must be as trimmed of fat as much as possible as fat interferes with the TB diagnostic methods (both PCR and culture)
• Annexes 8a, 8b and 21 replaced with the most updated versions
• Annex 25 removed.

Chapter 7

• Section 1.2.8 Added statement on judicial review
• Sections 2.4.5 and 4 Wording revised to reflect current terminology
• Section 2.5.19 Guidance added on the use of ENF 11/22
• Sections 3.3.7 and 3.4.7 Terminology amended based on legal guidance
• Section 4.2.2 Removed flow diagram
• Section 3.1.1 Minor errors corrected
• Section 5.4.2 Amended wording for the use of the ENF 11/29
• Section 5.4.4 Amended flow diagram to replace VEDM with FVC
• Annex 1 Removal of residual comment and terminology corrected based on legal services advice
• Annex 2 Minor revisions to terminology and addition of statement on Judicial Review
• Annex 12 Chronos user guide updated to reflect changes made by Chronos Working group, new screenshots, new references to terminology, addition of FAQ
• Annex 18 Q&A on prerequisites added.

Chapter 9

• Section 2.12 Forms WEL 11/35 (E) and (W) minor amendments to improve consistency. Revision dates amended on WEL 3/1 and 3/2 to reflect changes made in previous revision
• Section 2.6 Amendments made to the following DH ENF forms to bring them in line with revised ENF forms including revision of wording, inclusion of reference to OCR and improve notes. 11/1 (E) and (W), 11/3 (E) and (W), 11/16 (E) and (W), 11/24(W), 11/25(E) and (W), 11/27(E) and (W), 11/28(E) and (W). Revision dates in Chapter 9 also updated
• Section 2.7 Amendments made to the following ENF forms (Wales versions predominately) to bring them in line with forms previously revised 01/22 (England versions). Revisions include amendments to guidance to the FBO, to the AO, inclusion of reference to OCR and improvements to wordings. ENF 11/1(W), 11/12(W), 11/13(W), 11/14(E) and (W), 11/16(E) and (W), 11/17(W), 11/22, 11/28(E) and (W). Revision dates in Chapter 9 also updated.