Defra urged to move quickly on small abattoir support
Industry bodies have welcomed an announcement from Government of a new fund for smaller abattoirs to improve productivity and enhance animal welfare.
But Government must now move quickly if it wants to keep small abattoirs open.
John Mettrick, National Craft Butchers legislative director and who also sits on the Abattoir Sector Group, said it was welcome news that the Government was recognising the crisis in the sector.
But, he said, payment rates needed to be at the correct level to encourage small abattoirs to invest.
“I also think it is important the process is not bureaucratic,” he said, highlighting previous funds had meant businesses had to spend weeks filling in paperwork or hire consultants to help.
“These businesses just do not have the resources.”
Rare Breeds Survival Trust chief executive Christopher Price said it was good that Defra was continuing to recognise the ‘crisis’ in the smaller abattoir network with facilities closing on almost a monthly basis.
“One of the benefits of being outside of the EU was that we no longer need regulations which were intended to make sure there was a level playing field across Europe when many of these abattoirs are not exporting at all,” he said.
Alex Black | Farmers Guardian
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