We are inviting veterinary students and qualified veterinarians to apply for a one-week Extramural Studies (EMS) placement over 4 set weeks spread throughout the year. Attendees will shadow officials at various food premises in Scotland.
The placement will provide attendees with an overview of the work that Food Standards Scotland (FSS) delivers, with a focus on meat official controls (food safety and animal welfare). It will also give them an understanding of some of the other career opportunities in the veterinary profession.
The placement will consist of:
- a mix of online or face-to-face introductory sessions and presentations
- accompanying an FSS Official Veterinarian in food premises
- shadowing an audit or approvals officer
Follow-up questions will be welcomed, and attendees will be given the opportunity to provide written feedback at the end of the week. This will help us to continually improve our EMS programme.
Topics that will be covered include:
- health and safety induction in plant
- FSS’s role as Competent Authority vs food business operator duties (discussion about the main legal requirements related to official controls)
- FSS’s interactions with other government bodies and other organisations
- ante-mortem inspection and lairage operations: conditions at ante-mortem inspection (including notifiable diseases and how to report them), animal welfare, animal identification (reporting animal welfare and animal identification cases, FSS duties, food business operator’s duties with regards to these aspects)
- post-mortem inspection: Meat Hygiene Inspectors’ duties, conditions identified, protocols on specified risk material identification, notifiable diseases, sampling for veterinary residues on behalf of the Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD), plant protocols with regards to Meat Hygiene Inspectors’ offline duties etc.
- animal by-products
- edible co-products
- food business operator’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and FSS checks on the implementation of food business operator’s HACCP-based procedures
The EMS placement will take place during the following weeks:
- 24 – 28 March 2025
- 7 – 11 April 2025
- 21 – 25 July 2025
- 10 – 14 November 2025
Please note that due to our sites’ location, we will find it extremely difficult to arrange the placement in such a way that you can get most benefit, if you don't have access to a private vehicle. This will likely result in your application being declined.
Depending on budget, we look to support attendees with a financial contribution towards their travel and accommodation expenses.
To apply for an EMS placement with us, please complete the EMS Programme application form.
Please submit your application no later than three weeks in advance of the week you opt for.
We look forward to hearing from you.
