Public Consultation on National Residues Control Programme Charges
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) announced today, a public consultation on the proposed changes to charges for the National Residues Control Programme (NRCP). The revisions aim to enable UK, Scottish, and Welsh Governments to continue recovering the full costs of implementing the NRCP.
A Closer Look at the NRCP
The NRCP is a statutory program that helps identify residues of banned substances, veterinary medicines, and contaminants in animal-origin products destined for the food chain. Over 30,000 random samples such as eggs, milk, red meat, poultry meat, and farmed fish are collected and analyzed annually in Great Britain.
The Cost of Ensuring Safety
Currently, the VMD invoices food business operators £5m per annum to cover the costs of the NRCP, prices that have remained constant for over a decade. However, due to a projected rise in contractor procurement costs, these are expected to increase to £6.1 million by 2026.
Proposed Changes and Their Implications
To manage this expected rise, the VMD proposes to incrementally increase these statutory charges over the next two financial years. This move ensures full cost recovery, as mandated by the HMT. These changes not only safeguard public health but also reassure the UK’s trading partners about the quality and safety of exported animal-origin products, supporting international trade worth billions to the UK economy.
The Consultation Process
The consultation, running for ten weeks, can be accessed directly through Citizen Space or by visiting the VMD’s new engagement website.
Abi Seager, Veterinary Medicines Directorate CEO, emphasized,
“The NRCP is fundamental to providing assurance to the UK’s trading partners about the quality and safety of exported products of animal origin. The proposed changes will ensure that we can continue to run this important program.”
In Summary
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has initiated a public consultation on proposed charges for the National Residues Control Programme (NRCP), which safeguards the safety and quality of animal-origin products in the UK. The VMD aims to recover costs, as required by the HMT, by incrementally raising charges over two years due to expected procurement cost increases.
This move ensures global confidence in the quality of UK exports. The VMD’s transparency is evident through a ten-week public consultation. These changes are crucial for both public health and supporting international trade, making them relevant to a global audience concerned with food safety and trade standards.
Sources: THX News & Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
