Audit of the DARD Veterinary Service Veterinary Public Health Unit

Wednesday 7 September 2005

The performance of DARD Veterinary Service Veterinary Public Health Unit (VS-VPHU) staff in licensed meat premises in Northern Ireland is subject to audit by FSA Northern Ireland (FSANI). VS-VPHU carries out a supervisory, inspection and enforcement role on behalf of FSANI in licensed meat premises.

The audits determine whether VS-VPHU operations, practices and activities comply with the requirements specified in the VS-VPHU Operations Manual, including relevant legislation and codes of practice.

This is the first annual report on the audit of VS-VPHU by FSANI. The report sets out the results of six planned audits which took place between April 2003 and March 2004. It acknowledges areas where VS-VPHU performed well and identifies areas of weakness. A number of recommendations for improvement in VS-VPHU performance are made.

The VS-VPHU response accepts all the report's recommendations and gives details of actions which VS-VPHU will take to address them together with a timetable for implementation.