The National Residues Control Programme (NRCP) is a statutory annual surveillance programme in England, Scotland and Wales designed to help identify residues of banned substances, veterinary medicines, and contaminants in products of animal origin before they enter the food chain.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) manages the NRCP which helps to protect human health and provide assurances to the UK's trading partners about the quality and safety of exported products of animal origin. To ensure the NRCP remains effective and viable, the charges for Residues Surveillance Regulations are changing from 1 October 2024.
The changes to the fees are not arbitrary. They are part of our commitment to operating on a 'cost recovery basis'. This means that the fees we charge are intended to cover the costs we incur in providing these services to stakeholders, without seeking to generate a surplus.
Changes to the charges for Residues Surveillance Regulations 2011
The changes vary the fees required to be paid in respect of the Secretary of State's surveillance of animals and animal products for residues of veterinary medicinal products and other substances. The change follows the completion of a 10 week joint public consultation launched in January 2024 as required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) of the European Parliament, and the approval of the amendment to the charges for Resides Surveillance Regulations by the Secretary of State.
The new fees are set out in The Charges for Residues Surveillance (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2024 (legislation.gov.uk) and are itemised below.
| Creature or animal product | Charges for Residues Surveillance (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (£) | Replacement charge (£) from 1 Oct 2024 to 31 March 2025 | Replacement charge (£) from 1 April 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovine | 0.5106 per carcase | 0.7007 per carcase | 0.7617 per carcase |
| Goat | 0.0507 per carcase | 0.0691 per carcase | 0.0751 per carcase |
| Sheep | 0.0507 per carcase | 0.0691 per carcase | 0.0751 per carcase |
| Soliped | 0.3536 per carcase | 0.4287 per carcase | 0.4660 per carcase |
| Swine | 0.0543 per carcase | 0.0676 per carcase | 0.0735 per carcase |
| Game and wild game | 1.0461 per tonne | 1.0461 per tonne | 1.0461 per tonne |
| Poultry | 0.5568 per tonne | 0.5917 per tonne | 0.6432 per tonne |
| Eggs | 0.0179 per case of 360 | 0.0206 per case of 360 | 0.0206 per case of 360 |
| Milk | 0.0276 per 1000 litres | 0.0373 per 1000 litres | 0.0405 per 1000 litres |
| Fish other than trout | 2.1265 per tonne of marketed product | 2.1660 per tonne of marketed product | 2.3546 per tonne of marketed product |
| Trout | 1.6840 per tonne of fish food | 2.5963 per tonne of fish food | 2.8222 per tonne of fish food |
