Request
Your request was about the following information:
Pursuant to section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act (the “Act”), we request that you disclose the following information:
1. What are FSS’ powers of inspection on fish farms and fish processing sites in Scotland?
2. Is there a service level or other agreement in place between APHA and Marine Scotland, Food Standards Scotland or other Scottish regulatory body relating to the performance of welfare checks on fish at fish processing sites in Scotland? If so, what are the terms regarding these welfare checks in terms of responsibility for the checks, frequency of the checks and outcomes of the checks.
3. How is welfare monitored on fish farms and fish processing sites?
4. Do you carry out announced and unannounced inspections at fish processing sites and fish farms in Scotland? If so, please confirm the number of announced and unannounced inspections carried out by FSS between January 2018 and January 2023 and please confirm the purpose of the inspections, for example animal welfare, animal health etc.
5. How is the appropriate frequency of inspections by FSS decided upon for each fish farm and fish processing site?
6. How is it decided whether an inspection on a fish farm or fish processing site by FSS is announced or unannounced?
7. Do other regulatory bodies carry out announced and unannounced inspections at fish processing sites in Scotland? If so, please confirm the number of announced and unannounced inspections carried out by these bodies between January 2018 and January 2023.
8. How is the appropriate frequency of inspections decided upon for each fish farm and fish processing site by these other regulatory bodies?
9. How is it decided whether an inspection on a fish farm or fish processing site by these bodies is announced or unannounced? foodstandards.gov.scot 2
10.Please provide copies of all farm management agreements relating to fish farms in Scotland which FSS holds.
11.Please confirm what if any code of practice or official guidance is referred to within farm management agreements relating to fish farms in Scotland held by FSS.
12.Is there any agreement in place between FSS and another regulatory body relating to the performance of welfare checks on fish farms and/or fish processing sites in Scotland? If so, what are the terms regarding these welfare checks in terms of responsibility for the checks, frequency of the checks and outcomes of the checks.
Please provide the requested information electronically, in either Microsoft Word or PDF format. We would be grateful if you could use the above requests as headings or titles to make clear to which request the information provided responds.
We do not believe that the information requested is exempt from disclosure under Part II of the Act, but in the event you disagree in relation to any request or part of request, please fully set out your reasons in detail. If the information provided is subject to any deletions or redactions, we ask that you justify each substantively.
Response
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) does not have any Official Control responsibilities for enforcement at fish farms or fish processing establishments. Fish farms are approved and then monitored by Marine Scotland who have fish inspectors. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) have responsibilities where veterinary medicines are used at these sites. Any processing establishments will be inspected by Local Authorities from a food law perspective. Given all the above Food Standards Scotland (FSS) do not hold any of the requested information.
