The Meat Inspection Regulations 1987

Regulation 13

SCHEDULE 4 PERMITTED COST FACTORS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF MEAT INSPECTION CHARGES BY A LOCAL AUTHORITY

General

1.  The use made by each slaughterhouse of the local authority’s facilities required to provide the meat inspection service, account being taken of economies in inspection resources made possible by the scale or mode of operation of any slaughterhouse.

Salaries and related costs

2.—(1) The salaries or fees, together with overtime payments and employers' national insurance and superannuation contributions, of staff engaged on meat inspection duties (or the relevant proportion thereof in so far as those duties do not occupy their full working day). In determining the amount chargeable in respect of these costs the following shall apply—

(a) If the hours required for meat inspection occupy less than the full working day of an inspector but the remaining period is too short for it to be practicable to employ that inspector fully on other duties, the full day (other than time actually spent on other duties) may be charged. In particular, if inspection is required at two or more distinct periods of the working day, the full time from the start of the first period of inspection to the end of the final period may be charged, other than any time actually spent on other duties.

(b) Where, because of a change in the scale or mode of operation of a slaughterhouse, the number of hours required for meat inspection at that slaughterhouse falls below the number envisaged when the charges applicable to that slaughterhouse were determined and the occupier thereof has given written notice to the local authority of that change of circumstance, the charges applicable to that slaughterhouse shall be correspondingly reduced on or before the expiry of a period of two months from the date of that notice.

(2) Travelling and related incidental expenses incurred by staff engaged in the carrying out of meat inspection (including subsistence and car user allowance where these are paid) except that such expenses shall not be charged where an officer is exclusively employed at one slaughterhouse, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the local authority and the occupier of that slaughterhouse.

Supervision

3.  Cost of supervision by staff not actually engaged on meat inspection, assessed on the basis of the payments mentioned in paragraph 2 above in accordance with the time spent by them on meat inspection supervision, together with the appropriate proportion of the expenses of office accommodation and equipment for such supervisory staff also assessed in accordance with time spent by them on meat inspection supervision.

Furniture and office equipment

4.  Depreciation of any office furniture or office equipment provided by the local authority for the use of inspectors at the slaughterhouse. Such costs shall not be included where, by agreement with the local authority, these items are provided by the occupier of the slaughterhouse.

Stationery and printing etc.

5.  The invoice price paid for record sheets and labels used in connection with meat inspection, and ink for marking meat.

Protective clothing and working equipment

6.  The invoice price paid for protective clothing and equipment used for the carrying out of meat inspection to the extent that they are paid for by the local authority.

Laundry

7.  The cost of laundering protective clothing at the local authority’s expense.

Telephone

8.  Cost incurred by the local authority in respect of telephone calls to and from any slaughterhouse in relation to meat inspections carried out there.

Training and recruitment

9.  Costs incurred by the local authority in connection with the recruitment of trainee inspectors and their training where the local authority intend to employ them as inspectors in their area following completion of training and have given a written statement to that effect to the occupier. The chargeable costs are those relating to advertisements for trainee meat inspectors, their interview expenses, course and examination fees, salaries, and travelling, subsistence and other expenses incidental to the training.

Other costs

10.  The cost of accounting and collecting charges and the cost of providing pay-roll and personnel services in connection with the employment of inspectors.