Food safety fee hike ‘catastrophic’ for UK’s small abattoir network
The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) proposals to increase its fees risks the future of the UK’s dwindling small abattoir network, the sheep sector has warned.
The food safety body launched a consultation in the summer concerning recent proposals to raise fees paid by abattoirs.
Proposed changes could mean a medium sized abattoir current paying £5,159.17 would rise to £10,163.10 – a 97% increase – per month.
Another change would see the FSA removing the discounted charging structure that currently benefits smaller abattoirs.
These businesses, which process fewer animals and require fewer regulatory hours, receive greater discounts, making it more affordable for them to comply with regulations.
The National Sheep Association (NSA) warned that the changes could ‘catastrophically impact’ the sector, many of which already face pressures.
It comes as the UK’s small abattoir network has seen a huge decline in recent decades, with numbers falling from 2,500 businesses in the 1970s to just over 200 today.
NSA policy manager, Emma Owen said the government must consider the broader impact of increased charges as small abattoirs were ‘vital’ to maintaining a diverse meat industry in the UK.
“More than half of the UK’s meat plants could be at risk of closure if the current discount structure is removed, threatening the UK’s food security and local economies,” she warned.
The Impact of Food Safety Charge Increase on Small Abattoirs
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