Consultation on mechanically separated meat (MSM) guidance

This consultation will be of most interest to

• Food Business Operators (FBOs) using mechanical meat separation equipment in their production processes; and those using MSM as an ingredient
• Food Law Enforcement Officers
• Meat Industry Trade Bodies
• Consumers

Consultation subject

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking feedback relating to new MSM guidance that is intended to provide support for FBOs following court judgments that clarify how the definition of mechanically separated meat (MSM) should be interpreted and applied.

Purpose of the consultation

The feedback from the consultation is sought specifically on:

• the effectiveness of the MSM guidance document in providing support in light of the Court Judgments
• the impacts of FBOs adapting their activities and operations in line with Court judgments
• whether there are wider issues around MSM that the FSA, or indeed wider government, should be seeking to address and why

Consultation pack

This consultation pack provides the background information and details you will need to know in order to respond to the questions in this consultation. 

Consultation pack for the mechanically separated meat (MSM) guidance (accessible version)

Draft guidance

Draft guidance for the consultation on mechanically separated meat (MSM) (accessible version)

How to respond

Responses are required by close 22 May 2024. Please state in your response whether you are responding as a private individual or on behalf of an organisation/company, including details of any stakeholders your organisation represents.

Please respond to the consultation via the MSM Consultation online survey. Feedback can also be emailed to meathygiene@food.gov.uk.