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Enforcement decision in an approved meat premises

Refusal of approval for a meat premises

If we refuse to approve your meat premises you have a right to appeal to a:

• Magistrates Court in England and Wales
• Court of Summary Jurisdiction in Northern Ireland

You can appeal under Regulation 12 of the Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations 2009 as amended.  Appeals must be lodged with the Court within one month.

To make a specific enquiry about meat premises approvals, contact:

Audit of an approved meat premises

If you disagree with the outcome of our audit of your premises, contact the Veterinary Auditor who conducted the audit and try to resolve any issues.

Audit appeal

If you are unable to resolve any disagreement informally, you can submit an appeal using our two-stage appeal process.

Stage one of appeal process

Submit your appeal within 14 calendar days of receiving a copy of your audit report.

The appeal must be submitted on an audit appeal form. 

You must provide evidence to support your claim that the Veterinary Auditor’s assessment is incorrect.

Full details of how to appeal are provided in the letter that comes with each audit report.

Your audit and the evidence you provide will be reviewed by one of our Audit Veterinary Leaders from outside the area where your premises is based.  

You will be notified of the outcome of the audit review within 14 calendar days.

Stage two of appeal process

You can appeal to an independent external investigating officer if you disagree with the outcome of the second successive stage one review.

For us to start the process, you are required to pay £250 at the outset as a contribution to our costs. This will be refunded if the appeal is found to be in the food business’s favour and the audit frequency is changed as a result.

You will be notified of the outcome of the review within 14 calendar days.

Statement of Resources in a meat premises

You can ask for a review of your Statement of Resources if you don’t agree with our Delivery Manager on the:

• level of resources 
• number of chargeable hours required at your meat premises

For us to start the process, you are required to pay £250 at the outset as a contribution to our costs. This will be refunded if the review at either stage one or two is found to be in the food business’s favour.

Stage one

Submit your request for a review within 21 calendar days of receiving your Statement of Resources. Further information is provided with the letter accompanying your Statement of Resources.

The review will be conducted by the Head of Operational Delivery from another business area and an independent industry representative. They will make a recommendation to our Chief Operating Officer for a decision.  

You will be notified of the outcome of the review within four weeks after we receive the review request.

Stage two

If you disagree with the outcome of the stage one review, you can submit a further appeal to us within one week of receiving the review.

We will nominate an independent person to review the appeal within one month of it being submitted to us.

You can contact our Operations Business Support team:

• business.support@food.gov.uk
• 01904 232177

Authorisation for the removal of specified risk material (SRM) at a meat premises

You can appeal our decision if we have refused or removed your authorisation for the removal of SRM. You must appeal within 21 days from the date the notice is served.

This appeal comes under regulation 10 of the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations.

Appeals should be made in writing to:
Head of Policy Food Group
Food Standards Agency
Clive House
70 Petty France
Westminster
London SW1H 9EX

We will respond to appeals within 20 working days of receipt.  If this is not possible, we will update you and explain why there has been a delay.

Meat establishment: hygiene improvement notice and remedial action notice

If you want to appeal a statutory enforcement notice issued to your meat establishment, details are on the back of all formal notices.

Statutory enforcement notices include a:

• Hygiene Improvement Notice 
• Remedial Action Notice

Other complaints about FSA service at a meat premises

You can send a formal complaint to us if you have not been able to resolve your complaint locally with either your:

• Service Delivery Manager 
• Area Head of Operational Delivery 

You will receive a response within 20 working days from receiving the complaint.  If this is not possible, we will update you and explain why there has been a delay.