A risk-based approach to meat inspection: How European official veterinarians perceive their work and training

Official veterinarians (OVs) are responsible for carrying out official controls to ensure the safety of food of animal origin. This study aims to evaluate the perceptions of OVs regarding their employment and training, and their confidence in work development procedures such as visual inspection and risk-based meat inspection. OVs working in 29 European countries completed an anonymous questionnaire including demographic data, qualification data, work experience, daily work, employment situation, and training. Multilevel logistic models examined the relationships of socio-demographic characteristics, qualifications, daily work and employment situation with the perception of not confident or unsatisfied. The proportion of OVs not confident in visual inspection and not confident in resources to support risk-based meat inspection, was around 20% and 30% respectively. Having a national specialisation and being in the 36–45 age group were associated with not being confident with visual inspection results compared to traditional meat inspection, while having a PhD and spending full time on OV tasks was associated with not being confident with risk-based meat inspection. The proportion of OVs dissatisfied with employment or with training was less than 20%. Those holding an MSc were more likely to be dissatisfied with their employment than those with a DVM. Dissatisfaction regarding training was not associated with any of the variables. OVs across Europe seem unanimous in their perceptions of their employment and training, but the perceptions about the difficulties in their day-to-day work (e.g. visual inspection and risk-based meat inspection) were associated positively with higher qualifications and working full-time. • A Risk-based meat safety assurance system (RB-MSAS) is needed. • 18.3% of official veterinarians were not confident in visual meat inspection. • 28.5% of official veterinarians were not confident with risk-based meat inspection. • Higher qualifications and full-time associated with negative perceptions of RB-MSAS. • Less than 15% were unsatisfied with their employment or training.