A BUTCHER has become one of the first meat sellers on Teesside to meet new licensing standards.
Morgan's Butchers, in Yarm, has met strict new regulations, introduced after an e-coli outbreak, in Scotland, which killed 21 people in 1996.
The regulations require the annual licensing by food authorities of retail butchers' shops and other retail outlets that sell raw meat and ready-to-eat foods from the same premises.
So far, butchers are the only section of the food industry which needs a licence and a number of conditions must be met before one can be granted.
A inspection by Stockton Borough Council's environmental health officers, revealed Morgan's exceeded all the necessary standards.
Chris Woods, technical director of Morgan's, said: "We are over the moon at our own status as the first licensed premises in Teesside."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article