[The withdrawing government, a new possibility for the meat inspection]

The Meat Inspection Act has been in existence more than seventy years. Meat inspection based on this act did not change very much over a considerable period. The parties involved, government, industry and science, are all of the opinion that a thorough revision of the aims of the meat inspection is required. Certain aspects, which did not receive much attention in the past: consumers' expectations, the effectiveness of governmental meat inspection in the future in relation to the position of the industry, are reviewed. The Integrated Surveillance System of the Animal and Meat Production Chain can only be partially effective. When the interest of consumers in the product is increased, it will be possible to translate their desires into specifications of the final product. A system of inspection which at least fulfills the safety requirements of the government, can be worked out by the participants without direct responsibility of the government. The direct task of the government will be concentrated on assessing the effectiveness of the system by the safety criteria.