Approval of meat plants
EU member states must publish lists of approved establishments, each corresponding to a different food sector. Under food hygiene legislation, meat plants require our approval to operate, unless they benefit from specific exemptions.
We’re responsible for approving slaughterhouses, cutting plants and game handling establishments, as those facilities require the presence of an Official Veterinarian. If a plant also has on-site cold stores, minced meat, meat preparation or meat products establishments, we need to approve these too. However, if they’re stand-alone establishments, your local authority will assess them.
Manual for Official Controls
The Manual for Official Controls (MOC) gives you details of the tasks, responsibilities and duties of our staff and veterinary contractors in approved establishments.
- Download the Meat Industry Guide from the Food Standards Agency website.
- For premises approved by Local Authorities, visit our Local Authority Approvals page.
Approved premises in Scotland
Food Standards Scotland approve red and white meat slaughter houses, game handling establishments and cutting plants. If co-located with the previous mentioned operations FSS also approves other activities in relation to products of animal origin.
The full list of approved establishments can be found here.
Applying for approval
A food business can’t be considered for approval until we’ve carried out an assessment, a veterinary manager has made a recommendation, and the approval documentation has been issued to the food business operator.
To apply for approval to operate as a slaughterhouse, cutting plant or game handling establishment, please download the form here or email approvals@fss.scot for an application pack.
When we are in receipt of the completed application and all supporting documentation, the Approvals team will make arrangements for a mutually agreed time for the veterinary manager to visit your establishment. The assessment visit will cover all structural, equipment, HACCP and hygiene requirements, and food businesses will have to meet all the relevant legal requirements of both Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.
Official Controls Charging
As from 30 September 2019, the undertaking of all approval activity in meat establishments is now charged at an hourly rate of £58.04, this will include time spent by the officer on preparation, visiting establishments and report writing (travel time is not directly chargeable to the individual FBO but is accounted for in the hourly charge).
Find out more about charging.
Appealing a decision
If the premises are refused approval, you have a right to appeal to a sheriff against our decision. This is in accordance with Regulation 12 of the Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations 2009, as amended. The time limit for lodging an appeal is one month from the date of the decision.
Operations team
4th Floor
Food Standards Scotland
Pilgrim House
Old Ford Road
Aberdeen AB11 5RL
Email: openness@fss.scot
Tel: 01224 285100
Withdrawal of approval
We need to ensure that all food business operators of approved meat establishments are producing meat safely. Where we find this is not the case, we can recommend prompt withdrawal of approvals as the ultimate sanction.
Audit of Meat Establishments
Food Standards Scotland carries out routine audits of approved meat establishments (that is slaughterhouses, cutting plants and game handling establishments) under veterinary control in Scotland.
These audits aim to ensure that food business operators are complying with food law requirements and to ensure that food businesses operating as a slaughterhouse are complying with relevant standards of animal health and welfare.
The audit frequency is determined by the categorisation of any non-compliance identified.
Audits and follow-up audits are carried out on an announced basis, with unannounced inspections also taking place in between scheduled inspections in cutting plants.
Food Standards Scotland has a dedicated in-house team of trained veterinary auditors carrying out these audits in Scotland.
Food business operators may appeal audit findings. They have up to 14 days following receipt of the audit report to appeal an audit outcome. Food Standards Scotland won’t publish an audit report on the website before the appeal window period has passed. Published reports will not contain potentially sensitive information such as personal details of staff and detailed technical information.
Request for a review of the full audit of food business operators.
Audit Report of Meat Establishments
1560 - Scotbeef Ltd - January 2017
1737 - Joan Houliston (t/a Galloway Foodservice) - January 2017
1106 - 2 Sisters Red Meat Ltd t/a McIntosh Donald January 2017
1584 - Border Meats Ltd T/A Lockerbie Abattoir - January 2017
1757 - Border Meats Ltd January 2017
1536 - John Scott Meat (Paisley) Limited (t/a John Scott Meats Ltd) - January 2017
1535 - Sandyford Abattoir (Paisley) Ltd - January 2017
1541 - A K Stoddart Ltd – February 2017
1100 - 2 Sisters Poultry Ltd - February 2017
1170 - Pak Poultry Products Limited - February 2017
1621 - Campbell Brothers Limited - February 2017
1724 - Scott Brothers Butchers - February 2017
1731 - Lochaber Game Services Ltd - February 2017
1125 - John M Munro Ltd - February 2017
1160 - Millers Of Speyside - February 2017
1648 - Campbells Prime Meat Ltd - March 2017
1208 - Rehmat Poultry Ltd - March 2017
1203 - Highland Drovers Limited - March 2017
1727 - Grants of Speyside - March 2017
1672 - W W Wales Ltd - March 2017
1633 - P R Duff Ltd - March 2017
1515 - Scotbeef (East Kilbride) Ltd - March 2017
1202 - Hugh Black & Sons Ltd - March 2017
1130 - Scotbeef Inverurie Ltd - March 2017
1542 - John Robertson & Sons Hamcurers Ltd - March 2017
1741 - Russell Hume Ltd - March 2017
1152 - B & M Sausages - April 2017
1107 - James Chapman (Butchers) Ltd - April 2017
1207 - Mr William Holleran And Mr Iain Holleran - April 2017
1533 - W M Bosomworth - April 2017
1750 - J Gilmour & Co Ltd - April 2017
1535 - Sandyford Abattoir (Paisley) Ltd - April 2017
1725 - Yorkes of Dundee - April 2017
1680 - Simon Howie Butchers Ltd - April 2017
1701 - Hubertus Game Ltd - April 2017
1664 - Hugh Black and Sons Ltd - April 2017
1156 - Orkney Meat Processors Ltd - May 2017
1139 - Jameel Poultry Limited - May 2017
1738 - Braehead Foods Ltd - May 2017
1100 - 2 Sisters Poultry Ltd t/a 2 Sisters Coupar Angus - May 2017
1193 - Gordon McWilliam (Aberdeen) - May 2017
1529 - Hall`s of Scotland - May 2017
1702 - McLays Limited - May 2017
1508 - Michael Malone of Edinburgh Ltd - May 2017
1151 - Efes Navstar - June 2017
1208 - Rehmat Poultry - June 2017
1756 - Shetland Abattoir - June 2017
1709 - Dunbia Ayr Limited - June 2017
1571 - Ramsay of Carluke - June 2017
1184 - The Ardgay Game Factory Ltd - June 2017
1626 - A K Stoddart Ltd - June 2017
1516 - James Chapman (Butchers) Ltd (t.a Shotts Abattoir) - July 2017
1758 - Kismet (Scotland) Ltd (1758) - July 2017
1585 - Mull Slaughterhouse Ltd (1585) - July 2017
1749 - Alishia Foods (1749) - July 2017
1210 - Rodgers Butchers Wholesale Ltd - August 2017
1206 - HWA UK Ltd (La Belle Boucherie) - August 2017
1546 - A P Jess (Paisley) Ltd - August 2017
1505 - Vivers Scotlamb Ltd - August 2017
1740 - John Henderson (Meat Specialists) Ltd - August 2017
1163 - Smiths Direct Butchers Ltd - August 2017
1200 - Seriously Good Butchery Ltd - August 2017
1150 - The Double Doner Kebab Company - August 2017
1685 - Aberdeenshire Larder - August 2017
1101 - Anglo Beef Processors UK (t/a ABP Perth ) - September 2017
1659 - SAC Commercial Ltd - September 2017
1154 - Lothian Catering Butchers Limited - September 2017
1201 - Downfield Limited - September 2017
1209 - Spice of Life (Corp) Ltd - September 2017
1511 - D S (Slaughterhouse) Ltd - September 2017
1641 - Richard Carmichael of Carmichael (t/a Carmichael Estate Farm Meats) - September 2017
1746 - Sandy Crombie, Rita Crombie, Jonathon Crombie (t/a The Real Sausage Company) - September 2017
1647 - Kezie Ltd - October 2017
1758 - Kismet Halal Meat & Doner - October 2017
1686 - Lochmaddy - October 2017
1169 - West Coast Foods (Prestwick) Ltd - October 2017
1745 - Supreme Food Processors - October 2017
1751 - Clanmill Ltd (t/a Original Doner Kebab) - November 2017
1704 - Burnside Farm Foods - November 2017
1142 - Nazar Scotland Ltd (t/a Nazar Halal Meats) - November 2017
1214 - Fresh Select Limited - November 2017
1743 - Euro Fast Food Disttribution Ltd - November 2017
1121 - Scotbeef Inverurie Limited - November 2017
1661 - Barclay & Newton Ltd - November 2017
1210 - Rodgers Butchers (Wholesale) Ltd - November 2017
1530 - Braveheart Beef (Scotland) Ltd - November 2017
1598 - Dawn Meats (U.K) (t/a Highland Meats) - December 2017
1124 - Dunbia (Elgin) Limited - December 2017
1717 - Gilchrist Poultry (t/a Gilchrist Poultry) - December 2017
1742 - David Killoh Meat Co Ltd - December 2017
1110 - Donald Russell Ltd - December 2017
1176 - Food Store Ltd (t/a King Food Butchery) - December 2017
1517 - Wishaw Abattoir Limited - January 2018
1103 - Neerock Ltd (t/a Woodhead Brothers) - January 2018
1536 - John Scott Meat (Paisley) Ltd - January 2018
1106 - 2 Sisters Red Meat Ltd (t/a McIntosh Donald) - January 2018
1560 - Scotbeef Ltd - January 2018
1190 - Simpson Game Ltd - January 2018
1584 - Border Meats (t/a Lockerbie Abattoir) - January 2018
1737 - Mrs Joan Houliston and Mrs Houliston (t/a Galloway Foodservice) - January 2018
1160 - Millers of Speyside - February 2018
1125 - John M Munro Ltd - February 2018
1724 - Scott Brothers (Dundee) Limited - February 2018
1170 - Pak Poultry Products Ltd - February 2018
1147 - Thos A Shaw (t/a Shaw Fine Meats) - February 2018
1621 - Campbell Brothers Limited - February 2018
1136 - Quality Pork Processors Limited - March 2018
1202 - Hugh Black & Sons Ltd - March 2018
1517 - Wishaw Abattoir Limited - March 2018
1715 - Queenslie (Scotbeef Ltd) - March 2018
1124 - Dunbia (Elgin) Limited - March 2018
1717 - Barraston Poultry Ltd - March 2018
1742 - David Killoh Meat Co Ltd - March 2018
1515 - Scotbeef (East Kilbride) Ltd - March 2018
1541 - A K Stoddart Ltd (1541) - April 2018
1542 - John Robertson and Sons (Hamcurers) Ltd (1542) - April 2018
1535 - Sandyford Abattoir (Paisley) Ltd (1535) - April 2018
1178 - Highland Game Limited - May 2018
1750 - J Gilmour & Co - May 2018
1152 - B & M Sausages - May 2018
1203 - Highland Drovers Limited - May 2018
1701 - Hubertus Game Ltd - May 2018
1737 - Mrs Joan Houliston And Mrs Melissa Houliston (T/A Galloway Foodservice) - May 2018
1749 - Bernedatte Reid and Kazem Lashkari (t/a Alishia Foods) - May 2018
1200 - Seriously Good Butchery Ltd - May 2018
1758 - Kiset (Scotland) Ltd (t/a Kismet Halal Meat & Doner) - May 2018
1176 - Food Store Ltd (t.a King Food Butchery) - May 2018
1633 - P R Duff Ltd - June 2018
1560 - Scotbeef Ltd - June 2018
1727 - Grants of Speyside - June 2018
1699 - Craigadam Country Larder - June 2018
1100 - 2 Sisters Poultry Ltd (t/a 2 Sisters Coupar Angus) - June 2018
1702 - McLays Limited - June 2018
1130 - Scotbeef Inverurie Limited - June 2018
1648 - Campbells Prime Meat Ltd - July 2018
1626 - A K Stoddart - July 2018
1516 - James Chapman (Butchers) - Ltd - July 2018
1535 - Sandyford Abattoir (Paisley) Ltd - July 2018
1758 - Kismet Halal Meat & Doner - August 2018
1701 - Hubertus Game Ltd August 2018
1529 - Halls of Scotland - August 2018
1749 - Alishia Foods - August 2018
1215 - Wild Deer Game Ltd - September 2018
1672 - W W Wales Ltd - September 2018
1139 - Jameel Poultry Limited - September 2018
1118 - Stornoway Abattoir- September 2018
1735 - Avonvogie Enterprieses Ltd - September 2018
1727 - Grants of Speyside - September 2018
1184 - The Ardgay Game Factory Ltd - October 2018
1217 - Browns Food Group t/a The Scottish Gourmet) - October 2018
1533 - John Scott Meat (Paisley) Limited (t.a W M Bosomworth) - October 2018
1516 - James Chapman (Butchers) Ltd (t.a Shotts Abattoir) - October 2018
1738 - Braehead Foods Ltd - October 2018
1193 - Gordon McWilliam (Aberdeen) Ltd - October 2018
1686 - John Morrison (t.a Lochmaddy Slaughterhouse) - October 2018
1206 - HWA UK Ltd (La Belle Boucherie) - November 2018
1756 - Shetland Abattoir - November 2018
1680 - Simon Howie Butchers Ltd - November 2018
1757 - Border Meats Limited- November 2018
1685 - Aberdeenshire Larder Limited November 2018
1692 - W.G. Young - November 2018
1585 - Mull Slaughterhouse Limited - November 2018
1505 - Vivers Scotlamb Ltd - November 2018
1135 - Gearadhmor- November 2018
1107 - James Chapman (Butchers) Ltd- November 2018
1190 - Simpson Game Ltd - November 2018
1664 - Hugh Black & Sons Ltd - November 2018
1704 - Burnside Farm Foods - December 2018
1139 - Jameel Poultry Limited - December 2018
1201 - Downfield Limited - December 2018
1106 - Kepak Group Ltd (t/a McIntosh Donald) - January 2019
1744 - We Hae Meats - January 2019
1209 - Spice of Life (Corp) Ltd - January 2019
1508 - Michael Malone of Edinburgh - January 2019
1641 - Richard Carmichael of Carmichael - January 2019
1571 - Ramsay of Carluke Ltd - January 2019
1125 - John M Munro Ltd - January 2019
1121 - Scotbeef Inverurie Limited - January 2019
1738 - Braehead Foods Ltd - February 2019
1151 - Navstar Limited (t/a Efes Navstar Ltd) - February 2019
1150 - Ali Cetin, Dogan Kaya, Ercan Kaya (t/a The Double Doner Kebab Company) - February 2019
1664 - Hugh Black & Sons Ltd - February 2019
1585 - Mull Slaughterhouse Limited - February 2019
1725 - Frank Yorke and Grant Yorke (t/a Yorkes of Dundee) - February 2019
1214 - Fresh Select Limited - February 2019
1659 - SAC Commercial Ltd - February 2019
1685 - Aberdeenshire Larder Limited - February 2019
1216 - Mr Robin Tuke & Mrs Alison Tuke (t/a Pasture-To-Plate) – March 2019
1101 - Anglo Beef Processors UK (t/a ABP Perth) - March 2019
1743 - Euro Fast Food Distribution Ltd - March 2019
1142 - Nazar Scotland Ltd (t/a Nazar Halal Meats) - March 2019
1745 - Mohammed Parvez (t/a Supreme Food Processors) - March 2019
1208 - Rehmat Poultry Ltd - March 2019
1661 - J F Finlay And Company Ltd - March 2019
1163 - Smiths Direct Butchers Ltd - March 2019
1740 - John Henderson (Meat Specialists) Ltd - March 2019
1154 - Lothian Catering Butchers Limited (t/a Lothian Catering Butchers) - March 2019
1598 - Dunbia (UK) (t/a Dunbia Highland Meats) - March 2019
1530 - Braveheart Beef (Scotland) Ltd - April 2019
1213 - Malcolm Allan Limited - April 2019
1508 - Michael Malone of Edinburgh Ltd - April 2019
1218 - Deskfood Ltd (t/a Scott Meat) - April 2019
1103 - Neerock (t/a Woodhead Brothers) - April 2019
1210 - Rodgers Butchers Wholesale Ltd - April 2019
1724 - Scott Brothers Butchers - April 2019
1546 - A P Jess (Paisley) Ltd - April 2019
1160 - Millers of Speyside - April 2019
1136 - Quality Pork Processors - May 2019
1542 - John Robertson & Sons (Hamcurers) Ltd - May 2019
1751 - Clanmill Ltd (t/a Original Doner Kebab) - May 2019
1750 - J Gilmour & Co Limited - May 2019
1541 - A K Stoddart Ltd - May 2019
1584 - Border Meats Ltd ( t/a Lockerbie Abattoir) - May 2019
1170 - Pak Poultry Products Limited - May 2019
1737 - Mrs Joan Houliston and Mrs Melissa Houliston (t/a Galloway Foodservice) - May 2019
1176 - Food Store Ltd (King Foods Butchery) - May 2019
1208 - Rehmat Poultry Ltd - June 2019
1740 - John Henderson (Meat Specialists) Ltd - June 2019
1110 - Donald Russell Ltd - June 2019
1536 - John Scott Meat (Paisley) Limited (t/a John Scott Meats Ltd) - June 2019
1178 - Highland Game Limited - June 2019
1103 - Neerock Ltd (Woodhead Brothers) - June 2019
1163 - Smiths Gourmet Butchers - July 2019
1100 - 2 Sisters Coupar Angus - July 2019
1160 - Millers of Speyside - July 2019
1560 - Scotbeef Ltd - July 2019
1152 - B&M Sausages Ltd - July 2019
1633 - P R Duff Ltd - August 2019
1202 - Hugh Black & Sons Ltd - August 2019
1702 - McLays Limited - August 2019
1584 - Border Meats (t/a Lockerbie Abattoir) - August 2019
1170 - Pak Poultry Products Limited - August 2019
1147 - Thos A Shaw (t/a Shaws Fine Meats) - August 2019
1626 - A K Stoddart - September 2019
1107 - James Chapman (Butchers Ltd) - September 2019
1621 - Campbell Brothers Ltd - September 2019
1648 - Campbells Prime Meat Ltd - September 2019
1758 - Kismet (Scotland) Ltd (t/a Kismet Halal Meat & Doner) - September 2019
1529 - Halls of Scotland Limited - September 2019
1517 - Wishaw Abattoir Limited - September 2019
1715 - Queenslie (Scotbeef Ltd) - September 2019
1515 - Scotbeef (East Kilbride) Ltd - September 2019
1130 - Scotbeef Inverurie Limited - September 2019
1100 - 2 Sisters Poultry Ltd (t/a 2 Sisters Coupar Angus) - October 2019
1535 - Sandyford Abattoir (Paisley) Ltd - October 2019
1701 - Hubertus Game Ltd - October 2019
1217 - Browns Food Group Limited (T/A The Scottish Gourmet) - November 2019
1170 - Pak Poultry Products Limited - November 2019
1517 - Wishaw Abattoir Limited - November 2019
1672 - W W Wales Limited - November 2019
1193 - Gordon McWilliam (Aberdeen) - November 2019
1742 - David Killoh Meat Co. Ltd - December 2019
1516 - James Chapman (Butchers) Ltd (t.a Shotts Abattoir) - December 2019
1505 - Vivers Scotlamb Ltd - December 2019
1727 - Grants of Speyside - December 2019
1139 - Jameel Poultry Limited - December 2019
1201 - Downfield Limited - December 2019
1184 - The Ardgay Game Factory Ltd - December 2019
1756 - SLMG Trading Ltd (t/a Shetland Abattoir) - January 2020
1757 - Border Meats Limited - January 2020
1692 - W G Young - January 2020
1121 - Scotbeef Inverurie Limited - January 2020
1533 - John Scott Meat (Paisley) Limited (t/a W M Bosomworth) - January 2020
1758 - Kismet (Scotland) Ltd (t/a Kismet Halal Meat & Doner) - January 2020
1125 - John M Munro Ltd - January 2020
1535 - Sandyford Abattoir (Paisley) Ltd - January 2020
1190 - Simpson Game Ltd - January 2020
1685 - Aberdeenshire Larder Limited - February 2020
1150 - Ali Cetin, Dogan Kaya, Ercan Kaya (t.a The Double Doner Kebab Company) (1150) - February 2020
1214 - Fresh Select Limited - February 2020
1571 - Ramsay of Carluke Ltd - February 2020
1641 - Richard Carmichael of Carmichael (t.a Carmichael Estate Farm Meats) - February 2020
1680 - Simon Howie Butchers Ltd - February 2020
1209 - Spice of Life (Corp) Ltd - February 2020
1744 - We Hae Meat Ltd - February 2020
1725 - Yorkes of Dundee - February 2020
In this section
Approved premises inspections
Our verification, audit and meat inspection services protect public and animal health and welfare in Scotland.
Official controls in approved meat premises
Our role is to make sure Scotland’s meat industry protects public health, and pays due consideration to the health and welfare of animals at slaughter.
Meat Industry Guide
The Meat Industry Guide (MIG) assists UK meat plant operators whose premises require approval and veterinary control under the European Union Food Hygiene Regulations.
Food chain information
All slaughterhouse operators in Scotland are bound by EU food hygiene legislation to request, receive, check and act on food chain information.
Animal disease
Cattle, sheep and goats are susceptible to a group of brain diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).
Use of Slaughterhouse Staff AS Plant Inspection Assistants (PIAs)
Guidance on the implementation of a Plant Inspection Assistant.
Authorisation of transportation of warm meat
Guidance on the authorisation for transportation of warm meat.
Imports & Exports
If you’re importing or exporting food, you need to comply with regulations. Failure to do so could cause enforcement authorities to take action.