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 complete the Approval form 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 28 March 2022, the undertaking of all approval activity in meat establishments is now charged at an hourly rate of £72.51. 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 Report of Meat Establishments
Plant ID | Business Name | Local Authority | Link to Audit Summary |
---|---|---|---|
1100 | 2 SISTERS FOOD GROUP LTD | Perth and Kinross Council | 1100 - 2 Sisters Poultry Ltd (t/a 2 Sisters Coupar Angus) - October 2019 |
1626 | A K STODDART LTD | West Lothian Council | 1626 - A K Stoddart - September 2019 |
1541 | A K STODDART LTD | South Ayrshire Council | 1541 - A K Stoddart Ltd - May 2022 |
1685 | ABERDEENSHIRE LARDER LIMITED | Aberdeenshire Council | 1685 - Aberdeenshire Larder Limited - February 2020 |
1150 | ALI CETIN, DOGAN KAYA, ERCAN KAYA T/A TURKISH DOUBLE DONER KEBAB COMPANY | Glasgow City Council | 1150 - Ali Cetin, Dogan Kaya, Ercan Kaya (t.a The Double Doner Kebab Company) (1150) - February 2020 |
1101 | ANGLO BEEF PROCESSORS UK T/A ABP Perth | Perth and Kinross Council | 1101 - Anglo Beef Processors UK (t/a ABP Perth) - March 2019 |
1135 | ARCHIBALD MACLEAN T/A GEARADHMOR | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | 1135 - Gearadhmor- November 2018 |
1735 | AVONVOGIE ENTERPRISES LTD | Argyll and Bute Council | 1735 - Avonvogie Enterprieses Ltd - September 2018 |
1152 | B&M SAUSAGES LTD | Glasgow City Council | 1152 - B&M Sausages Ltd - July 2019 |
1757 | BORDER MEATS LTD | Dumfries and Galloway Council | 1757 - Border Meats Limited - January 2020 |
1584 | BORDER MEATS LTD T/A LOCKERBIE ABATTOIR | Dumfries and Galloway Council | 1584 - Border Meats (t/a Lockerbie Abattoir) - August 2019 |
1738 | BRAEHEAD FOODS LTD | East Ayrshire Council | 1738 - Braehead Foods Ltd - February 2019 |
1530 | BRAVEHEART BEEF (SCOTLAND) LTD | Falkirk Council | 1530 - Braveheart Beef (Scotland) Ltd - April 2022 |
1217 | BROWNS FOOD GROUP T/A THE SCOTTISH GOURMET | South Lanarkshire Council | 1217 - Browns Food Group Limited (T/A The Scottish Gourmet) - November 2019 |
1704 | BURNSIDE FARM FOODS | Scottish Borders Council | 1704 - Burnside Farm Foods - May 2022 |
1222 | CAFRO FOODS LTD | Renfrewshire Council | Audit Pending |
1621 | CAMPBELL BROTHERS LIMITED | Midlothian Council | 1621 - Campbell Brothers Ltd - September 2019 |
1648 | CAMPBELLS PRIME MEAT LTD | Falkirk Council | 1648 - Campbells Prime Meat Ltd - September 2019 |
1751 | CLANMILL LTD T/A ORIGINAL DONER KEBAB | West Dunbartonshire Council | 1751 - Clanmill Ltd (t/a Original Doner Kebab) - May 2019 |
1223 | COUNTRYWIDE FOODS LTD | South Lanarkshire Council | Audit Pending |
1699 | CRAIGADAM COUNTRY LARDER | Dumfries and Galloway Council | 1699 - Craigadam Country Larder - June 2018 |
1742 | DAVID KILLOH MEAT CO. LTD | Aberdeenshire Council | 1742 - David Killoh Meat Co. Ltd - December 2019 |
1226 | DENNIS THOMSON (FRESH MEAT) LTD T/A THOMSONS FOODSERVICE | Dumfries and Galloway Council | Audit Pending |
1110 | DONALD RUSSELL LTD | Aberdeenshire Council | 1110 - Donald Russell Ltd - April 2022 |
1201 | DOWNFIELD LIMITED | Fife Council | 1201 - Downfield Limited - December 2019 |
1219 | EDINBURGH MEAT & POULTRY LTD | City of Edinburgh Council | Audit Pending |
1743 | EURO FAST FOOD DISTRIBUTION LTD | South Lanarkshire Council | 1743 - Euro Fast Food Distribution Ltd - March 2019 |
1176 | FOODSTORE LTD T/A KING FOOD BUTCHERY | Aberdeen City Council | 1176 - Food Store Ltd (King Foods Butchery) - March 2022 |
1725 | FRANK YORKE & GRANT YORKE T/A YORKES OF DUNDEE | Dundee City Council | 1725 - Yorkes of Dundee - February 2020 |
1214 | FRESH SELECT LIMITED | Glasgow City Council | 1214 - Fresh Select Limited - February 2020 |
1193 | GORDON MCWILLIAM (ABERDEEN) LIMITED | Aberdeen City Council | 1193 - Gordon McWilliam (Aberdeen) - November 2019 |
1727 | GRANTS OF SPEYSIDE | Highland Council | 1727 - Grants of Speyside - December 2019 |
1529 | HALL'S OF SCOTLAND LIMITED | South Ayrshire Council | 1529 - Halls of Scotland Limited - September 2019 |
1178 | HIGHLAND GAME LIMITED | Dundee City Council | 1178 - Highland Game Limited - June 2019 |
1701 | HUBERTUS GAME LTD | Perth and Kinross Council | 1701 - Hubertus Game Ltd - October 2019 |
1664 | HUGH BLACK & SONS LTD | West Lothian Council | 1664 - Hugh Black & Sons Ltd - April 2022 |
1202 | HUGH BLACK & SONS LTD | North Lanarkshire Council | 1202 - Hugh Black & Sons Ltd - August 2019 |
1661 | J F FINLAY & COMPANY LTD | North Lanarkshire Council | 1661 - J F Finlay & Company - April 2022 |
1750 | J GILMOUR & CO LIMITED | East Lothian Council | 1750 - J Gilmour & Co Limited - May 2019 |
1225 | JACKTON ESTATES LIMITED | South Lanarkshire Council | Audit Pending |
1139 | JAMEEL POULTRY LIMITED | Glasgow City Council | 1139 - Jameel Poultry Limited - December 2019 |
1107 | JAMES CHAPMAN (BUTCHERS) LTD | North Lanarkshire Council | 1107 - James Chapman (Butchers Ltd) - September 2019 |
1516 | JAMES CHAPMAN (BUTCHERS) LTD T/A SHOTTS ABATTOIR | North Lanarkshire Council | 1516 - James Chapman (Butchers) Ltd - April 2020 |
1224 | JB Foods (Scotland) Ltd | Midlothian Council | Audit Pending |
1740 | JOHN HENDERSON (MEAT SPECIALISTS) LTD | Fife Council | 1740 - John Henderson (Meat Specialists) Ltd - June 2019 |
1125 | JOHN M MUNRO LTD | Highland Council | 1125 - John M Munro - April 2020 |
1686 | JOHN MORRISON T/A LOCHMADDY SLAUGHTERHOUSE | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | 1686 - John Morrison (t.a Lochmaddy Slaughterhouse) - October 2018 |
1542 | JOHN ROBERTSONS & SONS (HAMCURERS) LTD | North Ayrshire Council | 1542 - John Robertson & Sons (Hamcurers) Ltd - May 2019 |
1536 | JOHN SCOTT MEAT (PAISLEY) LIMITED T/A JOHN SCOTT MEATS LTD - TBC | Renfrewshire Council | 1536 - John Scott Meat (Paisley) Limited (t/a John Scott Meats Ltd) - June 2019 |
1533 | JOHN SCOTT MEAT (PAISLEY) LIMITED T/A W M BOSOMWORTH | Renfrewshire Council | 1533 - John Scott Meat (Paisley) Limited (t/a W M Bosomworth) - January 2020 |
1546 | JOHN SCOTT MEAT (PMP) LTD | Renfrewshire Council | 1546 - A P Jess (Paisley) Ltd - April 2019 |
1106 | KEPAK GROUP LTD T/A MCINTOSH DONALD | Aberdeenshire Council | 1106 - Kepak Group Ltd (t/a McIntosh Donald) - March 2022 |
1647 | KEZIE LIMITED | Scottish Borders Council | 1647 - Kezie Ltd - October 2017 |
1758 | KISMET (SCOTLAND) LTD T/A KISMET HALAL MEAT & DONER | Renfrewshire Council | 1758 - Kismet (Scotland) Ltd (t/a Kismet Halal Meat & Doner) - January 2020 |
1154 | LOTHIAN CATERING BUTCHERS LIMITED T/A LOTHIAN CATERING BUTCHERS | West Lothian Council | 1154 - Lothian Catering Butchers Limited (t/a Lothian Catering Butchers) - February 2022 |
1213 | MALCOLM ALLAN LTD | Falkirk Council | 1213 - Malcolm Allan Limited - April 2019 |
1702 | MCLAYS LIMITED | Glasgow City Council | 1702 - McLays Limited - August 2019 |
1508 | MICHAEL MALONE OF EDINBURGH LTD | City of Edinburgh Council | 1508 - Michael Malone of Edinburgh Ltd - April 2019 |
1160 | MILLERS OF SPEYSIDE LTD | Highland Council | 1160 - Millers of Speyside - July 2019 |
1745 | MOHAMMED PARVEZ T/A SUPREME FOOD PROCESSORS | East Dunbartonshire Council | 1745 - Mohammed Parvez (t/a Supreme Food Processors) - March 2019 |
1737 | MRS JOAN HOULISTON AND MRS MELISSA HOULISTON T/A GALLOWAY FOODSERVICE | Dumfries and Galloway Council | 1737 - Mrs Joan Houliston and Mrs Melissa Houliston (t/a Galloway Foodservice) - May 2019 |
1585 | MULL SLAUGHTERHOUSE LIMITED | Argyll and Bute Council | 1585 - Mull Slaughterhouse Limited - February 2019 |
1151 | NAVSTAR LIMITED T/A EFES NAVSTAR LTD | Glasgow City Council | 1151 - Navstar Limited (t/a Efes Navstar Ltd) - February 2019 |
1142 | NAZAR SCOTLAND LTD | Glasgow City Council | 1142 - Nazar Scotland Ltd (t/a Nazar Halal Meats) - March 2019 |
1103 | NEEROCK LTD T/A WOODHEAD BROTHERS | Aberdeenshire Council | 1103 - Neerock Ltd (Woodhead Brothers) - March 2022 |
1220 | OVENS RETAIL LTD T/A MEARNS T McCaskie | Glasgow City Council | 1220 - Ovens Retail Ltd - March 2022 |
1633 | P R DUFF LTD T/A MACDUFF 1890 | Inverclyde Council | 1633 - P R Duff Ltd - August 2019 |
1170 | PAK POULTRY PRODUCTS LIMITED | North Lanarkshire Council | 1170 - Pak Poultry Products Limited - November 2019 |
1227 | POLMAR MEATS LTD | Glasgow City Council | Audit Pending |
1136 | QUALITY PORK PROCESSORS LIMITED | West Dunbartonshire Council | 1136 - Quality Pork Processors - May 2019 |
1715 | QUEENSLIE (Scotbeef Ltd) | Angus Council | 1715 - Queenslie (Scotbeef Ltd) - September 2019 |
1571 | RAMSAY OF CARLUKE LTD | Glasgow City Council | 1571 - Ramsay of Carluke Ltd - February 2020 |
1641 | RICHARD CARMICHAEL OF CARMICHAEL T/A CARMICHAEL ESTATE FARM MEATS | South Lanarkshire Council | 1641 - Richard Carmichael of Carmichael (t.a Carmichael Estate Farm Meats) - February 2020 |
1210 | RODGERS BUTCHERS (WHOLESALE) LTD T/A RODGERS BUTCHERS | West Dunbartonshire Council | 1210 - Rodgers Butchers Wholesale Ltd - April 2019 |
1221 | SAC COMMERCIAL LTD | Midlothian Council | Audit Pending |
1535 | SANDYFORD ABATTOIR (PAISLEY) LTD T/A SANDYFORD ABBATOIR | Renfrewshire Council | 1535 - Sandyford Abattoir (Paisley) Ltd - March 2022 |
1515 | SCOTBEEF (EAST KILBRIDE) LTD | South Lanarkshire Council | 1515 - Scotbeef (East Kilbride) Ltd - September 2019 |
1121 | SCOTBEEF INVERURIE LIMITED | Aberdeenshire Council | 1121 - Scotbeef Inverurie Limited - January 2020 |
1130 | SCOTBEEF INVERURIE LIMITED | Aberdeenshire Council | 1130 - Scotbeef Inverurie Limited - September 2019 |
1560 | SCOTBEEF LTD | Stirling Council | 1560 - Scotbeef Ltd - July 2019 |
1724 | SCOTT BROTHERS (DUNDEE) LIMITED | Dundee City Council | 1724 - Scott Brothers Butchers - April 2019 |
1680 | SIMON HOWIE BUTCHERS LTD | Perth and Kinross Council | 1680 - Simon Howie Butchers Ltd - February 2020 |
1190 | SIMPSON GAME LIMITED | Highland Council | 1190 - Simpson Game Ltd - January 2020 |
1756 | SLMG TRADING LTD T/A SHETLAND ABATTOIR | Shetland Islands Council | 1756 - SLMG Trading Ltd (t/a Shetland Abattoir) - January 2020 |
1209 | SPICE OF LIFE (CORP) Ltd | West Dunbartonshire Council | 1209 - Spice of Life (Corp) Ltd - February 2020 |
1118 | STORNOWAY ABATTOIR / COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | 1118 - Stornoway Abattoir- September 2018 |
1184 | THE ARDGAY GAME FACTORY LTD | Highland Council | 1184 - The Ardgay Game Factory Ltd - December 2019 |
1147 | THOS A SHAW | North Lanarkshire Council | 1147 - Thos A Shaw (t/a Shaws Fine Meats) - August 2019 |
1505 | VIVERS SCOTLAMB LTD | Dumfries and Galloway Council | 1505 - Vivers Scotlamb Ltd - December 2019 |
1672 | W W WALES LIMITED | East Ayrshire Council | 1672 - W W Wales Limited - November 2019 |
1744 | WE HAE MEAT LTD | South Ayrshire Council | 1744 - We Hae Meat Ltd - February 2020 |
1692 | WILLIAM G YOUNG, WILLIAM G YOUNG (JNR), JOHN YOUNG, ELIZABETH YOUNG The Firm of WG Young, Overton Farm Butchery | South Lanarkshire Council | 1692 - W G Young - January 2020 |
1517 | WISHAW ABATTOIR LIMITED | North Lanarkshire Council | 1517 - Wishaw Abattoir Limited - November 2019 |
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.