The New Zealand Food Safety Authority is going ahead with trial changes to meat quality inspections at processing plants.

Boning room inspectors will be cut from two to one, and the job will be done by in-house meat workers rather than Government assessors.

The Public Service Association condemned the changes earlier this week, saying they would lead to a drop in inspection quality, but NZFSA market access director Tony Zohrab says Government inspectors will still be employed down the line.

“We’re only talking about doing trials in three establishments for sheep – the current performance criteria that applies will still have to be met.

"There shouldn’t be a problem, as the meat from those trials will have to go through safety inspection by Government officials during the trial."

Trials will begin in November at three plants – Alliance Mataura in Southland, Affco Imlay in Wanganui and Silver Fern Farms Pareora south of Timaru.