The FSA wants to understand how the changes are operating in practice and how it can monitor the impact of the legislative changes using existing and, possibly, new data.

The results of the research are expected to help the FSA to understand how the changes are working in practice and will also help FSA to identify areas where further assistance is needed – for example, training and information.

The work will be carried out by the independent research agency Ipsos MORI on behalf of FSA, and fieldwork will take place in spring/summer 2014 and 2015.
“It is important to emphasise that this fieldwork is for research purposes only and visits to establishments are not intended to be an official inspection or assessment of the slaughterhouse,” an FSA spokesman said.

Ipsos MORI will be contacting operators of a range of approved pig slaughterhouses at some stage this month (May), seeking the participation of their management and staff. FSA officials (and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland) carrying out official controls in pig slaughterhouses will also be invited to participate.

“Participation of food business operators, managers, staff and officials will be entirely voluntary but we strongly encourage you to take part if invited, so that your views are represented,” the FSA added.

Findings from the research should be available in early 2016 and will be written up in a report for the FSA and will not be attributed to individual slaughterhouses or individuals.

Information that could identify someone or their workplace - such as names and locations – will not be included in the report, will be kept confidentially by Ipsos MORI, not used for purposes beyond this research, and destroyed when the research is complete.

The FSA said that all information will be treated in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.