Small abattoirs should benefit from earned recognition, says Farming Minister
Farming Minister Mark Spencer has said he will push for small abattoirs to be able to benefit from earned recognition in order to reduce veterinary presence.
His comments came shortly after John Mettrick, owner of the multi-award winning Glossop-based butchers J W Mettrick, closed his abattoir because the staff walked out on account of the ‘constant scrutiny’ they faced.
The workers left after trading figures meant the business moved from requiring part-time to full on-site official veterinarians (OVs).
Mr Spencer told attendees of the NFU fringe event at Conservative Party conference in Birmingham: “I have already met with the Food Standards Agency. I think what we need is a risk-based approach.
“In my retail business, the environmental health officer inspects every two years. As long as when they do inspect, they find a premises which is clean, tidy, well-documented and abiding by all the rules, they come back on a less regular basis.
“If I have made a mistake, they will come back more often. I think we need to apply a risk-based system to our abattoirs so it does not require a veterinary surgeon to be there 24-7.”
by Abi Kay / Farmers Guardian
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