4. Discounts
4.1 Discounts to reduce the time charge
It was agreed with Ministers and industry in 2014 that a £1.3m discount would continue, with an adjustment being made for plant closures since that time, and as a result FSS will operate the following discount arrangement for red meat, poultry, and game handling establishments to reduce time charges.
4.1.1 Discount percentages table
This table distributes discounts based on a sliding scale of livestock units (LSU).
| Number of livestock units | Discount applied (%) |
|---|---|
| 0 - 1,000 | 74.50 |
| 1,001 - 5,000 | 55 |
| 5,001 - 40,000 | 6.75 |
| 40,001 - 100,000 | 2.25 |
For example, if you have 1,500 livestock units, for the 0-1,000 74.5% discount would apply and a 55% discount would be applied to the remaining 500 livestock units.
4.1.2 Livestock units by species table
This table shows the conversion rate from animals to livestock units – dead weight.
| 1 Livestock Unit = | Number of animals |
|---|---|
| Cattle > 8 months | 1 |
| Calf < 8 months | 2 |
| Horse/Donkey | 1 |
| Goat < 12kg | 20 |
| Goat >= 12kg | 10 |
| Sheep < 12kg | 20 |
| Sheep >= 12kg | 10 |
| Fattening pigs | 7 |
| Sows and boars | 4 |
| Wild Boar | 4 |
| Wild Deer | 20 |
| Farmed Deer | 2 |
| Broiler/Hens/poultry <2kg | 546.2 |
| Broiler/Hens/poultry >2kg and <5kg | 225 |
| Adult Poultry 5 kg or more | 113 |
| Turkeys < 5kg | 189 |
| Turkeys >= 5kgs | 113 |
| Water Buffalo | 1 |
| Ostrich/Emu/Rhea | 3 |
| Alpaca | 2 |
| Lama | 1 |
| Wild Ducks | 225 |
| Pheasant | 225 |
| Partridge | 450 |
| Grouse | 450 |
| Rabbits / Ground Game | 450 |
| Other Wild Game / birds | 450 |
4.2 How the discount is applied
To arrive at a discount, FSS will calculate total number of LSU in Scotland from the previous year’s throughput and divide into the total subsidy available. The level of subsidy across the country will be fixed. For 2026-27 the total discount available remains as £1.08 million.
This gives an equitable distribution of discount both across and within sectors. The model uses 4 bandings of LSU throughput, and these bandings have been chosen carefully to avoid catching FBOs in or around the break points. The discount percentages available for each banding are shown in the above diagram (see paragraph 4.1.1).
The discount is applied accumulatively to LSU levels: an FBO producing 6000 LSU would receive 74.5% discount for the first 1000, 55% discount for the next 4000 and 6.75% discount for the remaining 1000.
Establishments below 1000 LSU on the previous year’s calculation (i.e. throughput for the full year is below 1000 LSU’s) will receive a 74.5% discount on all their charge, this excludes work undertaken for Audits or Approvals.
4.3 When FSS will not levy a charge
There could be circumstances when official controls charges to approved meat businesses could be waived. These exceptional circumstances will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and are expected to be very infrequent occurrences.
4.4 Throughput information
The Charges Regulations require relevant FBOs to supply FSS with information to allow charges to be calculated. Throughput data is essential to calculate the yearly discount for each establishment and is provided to OGDs such as VMD (Veterinary Medicines Directorate). The information that FBOs supply may be subject to audits by FSS and by other Government departments.
For slaughterhouses, on-farm slaughter facilities and game-handling establishments where dressing takes place, the numbers of each species slaughtered and/or dressed which are subject to official controls, will be entered into the FSS IT System.
Non-operational periods should be included in the BA.
Throughput information for cutting plants is required as part of the audit and approval processes. There is no requirement for standalone and co-located cutting plants to supply regular information on throughput to FSS.
4.5 Non-return of throughput information
FBOs should be aware that, under the Charges Regulations it is a criminal offence for anyone to submit information that they know to be false or misleading, or, without reasonable excuse, to fail to provide the required information within a reasonable amount of time which is punishable on summary conviction by a fine.
6. Charges for other official controls (OCR – Article 80)
Under Article 80 of Retained Regulation (EU) No 2017/625 on official controls, FSS charges for the expenses arising from “additional official controls‟, i.e. controls that exceed the normal control activities.
FBOs will be charged for these other controls based on time.
7. Keeping charges to a minimum – hints and tips
To make sure that charges are kept to a minimum, FBOs can do the following:
- Make sure that their operating hours and working practices are agreed with FSS and are documented in the BA.
- Find out whether they can be designated as “low capacity”. An assessment of the business can be carried out to establish whether a FBO could qualify for reduced OV attendance. Speak to the FSS Operations Manager and the Veterinary Advisor responsible for the establishment for more information or to request an assessment.
- Give FSS as much notice as possible when there are temporary changes to the operating hours and working practices documented in the BA. Where an FBO plans to make longer term changes, give FSS at least 15 days’ notice. The more notice that is provided the better the opportunity that FSS has to redeploy staff without incurring additional costs.
Make sure that the food safety and management practices are of a good standard. This will reduce the likelihood of line stoppages and other enforcement action being taken by FSS that leads to additional cost. For cutting establishments, this will improve the audit outcome and may reduce the number of visits required by FSS staff.
- Make sure that regular contact is made with FSS Operations Manager for your establishment. They will be able to advise on any issues that may impact charges, keep you informed of future changes and can help make the best use of FSS resource.