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.
FBO Audit Appeals Process
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
If a Food Business Operator (FBO) is dissatisfied with the outcome of an audit or any findings in the audit report once received from the Audit Business Executive, the FBO has the right of appeal in line with the following procedure:
STAGE 1
The FBO should, in the first instance, contact the auditor and try resolve any misunderstanding or dissatisfaction informally with them. This can be either written or oral, at the choice of the appellant.
STAGE 2
If a FBO, or their representative, did not have their concerns addressed via the stage 1 process, they can escalate to the FSS Head Veterinarian (HV) at: elena.gafenco@fss.scot
The FBO, or their representative, should clearly identify which sections of the audit report they are appealing against and give objective evidence to support the claim that the auditor’s assessment is incorrect. Any such action (and evidence) should be submitted in writing within 14 calendar days of receiving the auditor’s response from stage 1 process. Appeals which are not supported with objective evidence may be rejected or further evidence requested. The Head Veterinarian will make a decision based on the evidence provided and communicate back to the FBO within another 14 calendar days.
STAGE 3
If the FBO remains unsatisfied with the outcome of the Stage 2, a formal appeal can be raised in writing with the FSS Head of Operational Delivery (HOD) within 14 days from the receipt of the stage 2 outcome, at: bryan.campbell@fss.scot
The HOD will make a decision within 14 calendar days. The outcome will be communicated to the FBO in writing, copying in the HV and the auditor.
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) - June 2022 |
1626 | A K STODDART LTD | West Lothian Council | 1626 - A K Stoddart - December 2022 |
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 - June 2022 |
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) - January 2023 |
1101 | ANGLO BEEF PROCESSORS UK T/A ABP Perth | Perth and Kinross Council | 1101 - Anglo Beef Processors UK (t/a ABP Perth) - May 2022 |
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 - August 2022 |
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 - June 2022 |
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) - September 2022 |
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 - June 2022 |
1648 | CAMPBELLS PRIME MEAT LTD | Falkirk Council | 1648 - Campbells Prime Meat Ltd - July 2022 |
1751 | CLANMILL LTD T/A ORIGINAL DONER KEBAB | West Dunbartonshire Council | 1751 - Clanmill Ltd (t/a Original Doner Kebab) - July 2022 |
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 - June 2022 |
1226 | DENNIS THOMSON (FRESH MEAT) LTD T/A THOMSONS FOODSERVICE | Dumfries and Galloway Council | 1226 – Thomsons Foodservice - Audit Summary - 2021/2022 |
1110 | DONALD RUSSELL LTD | Aberdeenshire Council | 1110 - Donald Russell Ltd - April 2022 |
1219 | EDINBURGH MEAT & POULTRY LTD | City of Edinburgh Council | 1219 - Edinburgh Meat and Poultry Ltd - November 2022 |
1743 | EURO FAST FOOD DISTRIBUTION LTD | South Lanarkshire Council | 1743 - Euro Fast Food Distribution Ltd - June 2022 |
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 - August 2022 |
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) - March 2022 |
1727 | GRANTS OF SPEYSIDE | Highland Council | 1727 - Grants of Speyside - September 2022 |
1529 | HALL'S OF SCOTLAND LIMITED | South Ayrshire Council | 1529 - Halls of Scotland Limited - September 2022 |
1178 | HIGHLAND GAME LIMITED | Dundee City Council | 1178 - Highland Game Limited - May 2022 |
1701 | HUBERTUS GAME LTD | Perth and Kinross Council | 1701 - Hubertus Game Ltd - November 2022 |
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 - April 2022 |
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 - July 2022 |
1225 | JACKTON ESTATES LTD | South Lanarkshire Council | Audit Pending |
1139 | JAMEEL POULTRY LTD | Glasgow City Council | 1139 - Jameel Poultry Limited - April 2022 |
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 - Shotts Abattoir Ltd - May 2022 |
1224 | JB Foods (Scotland) Ltd | Midlothian Council | Audit Pending |
1740 | JOHN HENDERSON (MEAT SPECIALISTS) LTD | Fife Council | 1740 - John Henderson (Meat Specialists) Ltd - September 2022 |
1125 | JOHN M MUNRO LTD | Highland Council | 1125 - John M Munro - July 2022 |
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 - August 2022 |
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) - September 2022 |
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 - June 2022 |
1758 | KISMET (SCOTLAND) LTD T/A KISMET HALAL MEAT & DONER | Renfrewshire Council | 1758 - Kismet (Scotland) Ltd (t/a Kismet Halal Meat & Doner) - July 2022 |
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 - November 2022 |
1702 | MCLAYS LIMITED | Glasgow City Council | 1702 - McLays Limited - September 2022 |
1218 | MEDITERRANEAN BREEZE (LONDON) LTD T/A SCOTT MEAT | Glasgow City Council | 1218 - Mediterranean Breeze t/a Scott Meat - October 2022 |
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 - October 2022 |
1745 | MOHAMMED PARVEZ T/A SUPREME FOOD PROCESSORS | East Dunbartonshire Council | 1745 - Mohammed Parvez (t/a Supreme Food Processors) - August 2022 |
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) - June 2022 |
1585 | MULL SLAUGHTERHOUSE LIMITED | Argyll and Bute Council | 1585 - Mull Slaughterhouse Limited - August 2022 |
1151 | NAVSTAR LIMITED T/A EFES NAVSTAR LTD | Glasgow City Council | 1151 - Navstar Limited (t/a Efes Navstar Ltd) - December 2022 |
1142 | NAZAR SCOTLAND LTD | Glasgow City Council | 1142 - Nazar Scotland Ltd - September 2022 |
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 LIMITED | Inverclyde Council | 1633 - P R Duff Limited - August 2019 |
1170 | PAK POULTRY PRODUCTS LIMITED | North Lanarkshire Council | 1170 - Pak Poultry Products Limited - May 2022 |
1227 | POLMAR MEATS LTD | Glasgow City Council | Audit Pending |
1136 | QUALITY PORK PROCESSORS LIMITED | West Dunbartonshire Council | 1136 - Quality Pork Processors - February 2022 |
1715 | QUEENSLIE (Scotbeef Ltd) | Angus Council | 1715 - Queenslie (Scotbeef Ltd) - October 2022 |
1571 | RAMSAY OF CARLUKE LIMITED | Glasgow City Council | 1571 - Ramsay of Carluke Ltd - August 2022 |
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) - July 2022 |
1210 | RODGERS BUTCHERS (WHOLESALE) LTD T/A RODGERS BUTCHERS | West Dunbartonshire Council | 1210 - Rodgers Butchers Wholesale Ltd - August 2022 |
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 - August 2022 |
1121 | SCOTBEEF INVERURIE LIMITED | Aberdeenshire Council | 1121 - Scotbeef Inverurie Limited - June 2022 |
1130 | SCOTBEEF INVERURIE LIMITED | Aberdeenshire Council | 1130 - Scotbeef Inverurie Limited - April 2022 |
1560 | SCOTBEEF LTD | Stirling Council | 1560 - Scotbeef Ltd - April 2022 |
1724 | SCOTT BROTHERS (DUNDEE) LIMITED | Dundee City Council | 1724 - Scott Brothers Butchers - June 2022 |
1680 | SIMON HOWIE BUTCHERS LTD | Perth and Kinross Council | 1680 - Simon Howie Butchers Ltd - July 2022 |
1190 | SIMPSON GAME LIMITED | Highland Council | 1190 - Simpson Game Ltd - September 2022 |
1756 | SLMG TRADING LTD T/A SHETLAND ABATTOIR | Shetland Islands Council | 1756 - SLMG Trading Ltd (t/a Shetland Abattoir) - March 2022 |
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 - October 2022 |
1184 | THE ARDGAY GAME FACTORY LTD | Highland Council | 1184 - The Ardgay Game Factory Ltd - September 2022 |
1505 | VIVERS SCOTLAMB LTD | Dumfries and Galloway Council | 1505 - Vivers Scotlamb Ltd - October 2022 |
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 - August 2022 |
1517 | WISHAW ABATTOIR LIMITED | North Lanarkshire Council | 1517 - Wishaw Abattoir Limited - September 2022 |
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).
Plant Inspection Assistants (PIAs)
Information about Plant Inspection Assistants and the process of enrolling slaughterhouse staff in this role.
Authorisation of transportation of warm meat
Guidance on the authorisation process for transporting warm meat.
Imports and 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.