Evaluating changes to official controls in pig approved slaughterhouses

The FSA is funding new research in pig approved slaughterhouses to understand how the legislative changes that apply from 1 June 2014 in these slaughterhouses are rolling out and operating in practice and how the FSA can monitor the impact of the legislative changes using existing and, possibly, new data.

About the research

The results of the research will hopefully help the FSA to understand how the changes are working in practice and will also help FSA to identify areas where further assistance is needed – for example, training and information.

The work will be carried out by the independent research agency Ipsos MORI on behalf of FSA, and fieldwork will take place in spring/summer 2014 and 2015.

It is important to emphasise that this fieldwork is for research purposes only and visits to establishments are not intended to be an official inspection or assessment of the slaughterhouse.

Ipsos MORI will be contacting operators of a range of approved pig slaughterhouses at some stage this month (May), seeking the participation of their management and staff. FSA officials (and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland) carrying out official controls in pig slaughterhouses will also be invited to participate.

Participation of food business operators, managers, staff and officials will be entirely voluntary but we strongly encourage you to take part if invited, so that your views are represented.

The findings

Findings from the research should be available in early 2016 and will be written up in a report for the FSA and will not be attributed to individual slaughterhouses or individuals. Information that could identify someone or their workplace – such as names and locations – will not be included in the report, will be kept confidentially by Ipsos MORI, not used for purposes beyond this research, and destroyed when the research is complete. All information will be treated in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

We would be very grateful for your support of this important piece of FSA research – taking part is a good opportunity to ensure that the FSA hears your views.