FSS approved establishments

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. 

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. 

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: veterinaryaudit@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.

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: veterinaryaudit@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.