Proposals on meat hygiene and BSE charges must be fundamentally rethought, says the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA).

It fears that a number of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) charges are to automatically increase because of currency fluctuations, in some cases by as much as 20%

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Defra will meanwhile be making decisions about other costs that the Government wants to impose on the livestock and meat industries.

Stuart Roberts, director of the BMPA, said: "It is vital that all parts of government take account of these increased MHS charges when considering other charges in the coming months.

"The FSA, Defra and devolved administrations must ensure that the impact of the MHS changes is not compounded by their own proposals in relation to the Meat Hygiene Service, Specified Risk Material charges or changes in the arrangements for testing BSE samples.

"We very much welcome the news that the FSA will be looking to engage with industry on this topic as part of their own consultation later this year and we hope other Government Departments will follow suit before making decisions affecting the meat and livestock industry."