Guide for food business operators on charging for meat hygiene official controls in Northern Ireland

Wednesday 4 April 2012

DARD Veterinary Service, Veterinary Public Health Unit (DARD VPHU) carry out Meat Hygiene Official controls in approved slaughterhouses, game handling establishments and cutting plants in Northern Ireland on behalf of the Food Standards Agency.

DARD VPHU currently provides a range of services in approved meat establishments in Northern Ireland. Some of these services are paid for by other Government Departments, for example, national surveillance for residues, other services are charged to you, the Food Business Operator (FBO). This Charges Guide provides an explanation of the charging process.

This Charges Guide aims to assist you in understanding:

• why charges are made for the services provided by DARD VPHU;
• who is charged and what they are charged;
• what is included in your charges;
• how your charges are calculated;
• the ways that you can reduce your charges;
• how often you will be required to pay;
• the methods of payment;
• what to do if you think that your charges are wrong.