http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013...semeat-scandal
The government has taken a system that was working reasonably well and in a drive to deregulate, has created a more fragmented and bureaucratic system and this horsemeat scandal has shown that there are serious flaws that need to be addressed," said Creagh.
Local authority trading standards officers are responsible for food inspections across the UK but unions say the service has been badly hit by government cuts. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills estimates that funding for trading standards services will fall from £213m in the 2011-12 to £140m by 2014.