Dairy Hygiene Inspectorate: Guide to Farm Inspections - Operating Procedures

The key proposal is:

• To issue new guidance to the Dairy Hygiene Inspectorate to take account of the new Regulations (as detailed below) for the carrying out of official controls in approved holdings.
• Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 on Official Feed and Food Controls requires Competent Authorities to carry out official controls in accordance with documented procedures. These procedures should contain information and instructions for staff performing the official controls.
• The Operating Procedures will underpin the requirements of Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, and concern the enforcement of Regulations (EC) Nos 852/2004 and 853/2004 at milk production holdings. These are new directly applicable EU Regulations that are being implemented from 1 January 2006.
• The draft Operating Procedures set out procedures, which the Dairy Hygiene Inspectorate should follow when enforcing food law at dairy production holdings.

Financial implications/impact

• We believe the financial impact of the draft Operating Procedures on food businesses to be neutral. The EU review of food hygiene law as it applies to milk production made very little change to the rules in respect of production holdings. The draft Operating Procedures essentially maintain the current approach to enforcement in this area.
• In the circumstances, a Regulatory Impact Assessment has not been prepared. Please use this opportunity to inform the FSA of any costs and burdens associated with these proposals and whether you agree with the FSA view.

This consultation has been prepared in accordance with the HM Government Code of Practice on Consultation, which states that a consultation must follow better regulation best practice, including carrying out an Impact Assessment (Regulatory Impact Assessment in Scotland). The assessment is included in the consultation documents.

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