Stephen Hockman QC and David Hercock appear in the Supreme Court in important food safety case

March 7, 2019

On 5 March 2019 Stephen Hockman QC and David Hercock appeared in the Supreme Court on behalf of the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (“AIMS”) instructed by Hannah Leese of SAS Daniels LLP. AIMS is a trade association that represents the interests of slaughterhouses within the United Kingdom. It was appealing against the judgment of the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) which had held that slaughterhouse operators have no right to challenge the decisions of Official Veterinarians appointed by the Food Standards Agency that meat carcasses are unfit for human consumption. AIMS seeks to establish that in such circumstances the procedure in section 9 of the Food Safety Act 1990 applies, i.e., that any dispute as to the fitness of food for human consumption should be resolved by taking the matter before a Justice of the Peace.

Judgment is awaited.