Meat Products (England) Regulations 2014

Overview

This consultation is on the Government’s plans to revoke the Meat Products (England) Regulations 2003 (MPR 2003) and replace them with revised Meat Products (England) Regulations 2014 (MPR 2014). The aim is to retain the important consumer protections offered by the MPR 2003 whilst bringing the regulations into line with European legislation.

The intent of the MPR 2014 is to ensure that meat products produced in England meet certain ingredient criteria.

Business and consumer groups, enforcement authorities and members of the general public are invited to contribute their views on the legislation, the Impact Assessment and the guide to compliance that Defra has prepared. 

The Impact Assessment includes specific consultation questions on the various impacts of the legislation, and which has been prepared by Defra working with the Food Standards Agency for the UK and in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Consultees are also asked to respond to the following general questions:

• Do you agree with the need to maintain legislation ensuring minimum meat contents for products using reserved descriptions?
• Do you agree with the need to retain the prohibition on the ‘prohibited carcase parts’ for all uncooked meat products produced in the UK?
• If yes to either of the above, how are the reasons for this unique to the UK or England, and what would be the economic benefits? This is needed to support the case for retention of the regulations with the European Commission.
• Do you agree with the proposed new enforcement regime, in particular the use of Improvement Notices and appeals to the First Tier Tribunal?

N.B. This consultation relates to England. Consultations on the equivalent proposals in Wales and Northern Ireland are launching on the same day, and a consultation for Scotland will follow shortly.