The Charges for Residues Surveillance Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2026: equality impact assessment (EQIA)
The EQIA considers the potential impacts of the above Regulations, which updates fees in Scotland required to be paid in relation to surveillance of animals and animal products for residues of veterinary medicinal products and other substances.
The Scope of the EQIA
The EQIA considered the public generally and assessed groups based on the following characteristics: age, disability, sex, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race, and religion or belief. As the proposals represent a continuation (with only minor adjustments) of current GB-wide policy due to be applied, and one which is subject to regular updates following consultation with industry stakeholders, a less intensive assessment was applied.
The EQIA took a qualitative approach and considered internal policy expertise and a public consultation exercise. The VMD, Scottish and Welsh Governments ran a joint consultation from 24 November 2025 to 19 January 2026 using Citizen Space, an online consultation tool. The consultation was launched with a press release and uploaded to Citizen Space. It was also published on VMD’s X and LinkedIn accounts and communications were also sent to sector group representatives. The EQIA demonstrated that the proposals are not expected to impact these groups, as the proposals are specifically about charges companies are exposed to when engaging with the NRCP. 9 responses were received during the public consultation, and no topics of concern were raised from the results.
Contact
Email: animal.health@gov.scot