German Pig Prices Steady Amid Contained Foot-and-Mouth Outbreak

HAMBURG, Feb 5 (Reuters) – German pig prices remained stable over the past week, as hopes rise that the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak has been contained, according to meat traders and industry groups.

The Livestock and Meat Production Association (VEZG) reported that German slaughterhouse pig prices held steady at 1.72 euros per kilo. This is a slight decrease from the approximately 1.82 euros per kilo before the outbreak was confirmed.

Germany reported its first case of foot-and-mouth disease in nearly 40 years on January 10, in a herd of water buffalo near Berlin. However, with no additional cases reported since, some emergency measures to control the disease have been lifted.

“The market is starting to dare to hope that no more outbreaks will occur and that meat exports within the EU will continue,” said one German meat trader.

This cautious optimism reflects the industry’s efforts to manage the outbreak and maintain stability in the market.

Original story: Reuters

Illegal Meat Seizures at Port of Dover Surge in 2024

Nearly 100 tonnes of illegal meat were seized at the Port of Dover in 2024, according to new data. The confiscated meat, which included pork, lamb, beef, and chicken, totalled 98,958kg across 868 separate seizures. This represents a significant increase of over 75% compared to the 56,089kg seized in 2023.

The Dover Port Health Authority has expressed concerns about the potential for diseased meat to enter the food chain. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has reiterated its commitment to protecting the UK’s biosecurity, stating that the government would “never waver” in this duty.

The data, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, highlights a dramatic rise in seizures from previous years. In 2022, only 3,899kg of meat were seized in 27 incidents. Additionally, the first week of January 2025 alone saw 10 tonnes of meat confiscated at the port.

Lucy Manzano of the Dover Port Health Authority noted that most of the seizures resulted from spot checks. “Pulling vehicles over, it’s from those vehicles that we’re finding these huge and increasing volumes of illegal meat that is heading for our high streets,” she said.

This surge in illegal meat seizures underscores the ongoing efforts to safeguard public health and maintain the integrity of the UK’s food supply chain.

Original story: BBC Kent

China’s customs authority significantly increased its rejections of imported meat in 2024, with the number of rejected shipments more than tripling compared to previous years. This surge has raised questions about whether there were genuine issues with the meat shipments or if the rejections were a strategic effort to support domestic meat producers.

According to monthly reports from the Chinese customs website, a total of 778 shipments of beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and deer meat were turned away at the border last year. This figure is a stark contrast to previous years, where the number of rejections never exceeded 300 since the customs administration took over inspections in 2018.

The increase in rejections was observed across all types of meat, with beef and pork seeing the most significant spikes. Beef rejections soared to 435 shipments, up from the usual 60 to 80, while pork rejections rose to 186 from the previous range of 40 to 70. Chicken rejections saw a smaller increase, from 86 to 112 shipments, and lamb rejections, though fewer in number, have been steadily rising, reaching 43 last year.

Despite the high number of rejections, the total weight of the rejected shipments was 5,633 metric tons, which is just 0.08% of China’s total meat imports of 6.7 million metric tons in 2024. Pork shipments made up about half of the rejected weight, with most containers ranging from 20 to 27 metric tons, while beef shipments were generally smaller, often between 10 to 1,000 kilograms.

China’s rejections affected meat imports from numerous countries. Australia faced the highest number of beef rejections with 144 shipments, while Denmark had the most pork rejections at 101 shipments. Brazil led in chicken rejections, and New Zealand accounted for more than half of the rejected lamb shipments.

Notable increases in rejections were seen for imports from Australia, the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, and the USA. The United States had 43 beef, 37 pork, and 17 chicken shipments rejected.

Denmark’s pork rejections were particularly striking, as nearly all came from a prominent company, marking a significant increase from just 10 rejections over the previous five years.

This surge in rejections has impacted all leading meat companies in Europe, North America, and South America, highlighting the stringent measures China has adopted in its import inspections.

Original story by Dim Sums

In a significant operation, Greater Manchester Police have arrested three individuals following a raid at an abattoir in Stockport.

The raid, which took place on Thursday, was part of a coordinated effort that also saw a simultaneous warrant executed at a residential property on Merlin Road in Blackburn, Lancashire.

Among those arrested were a man and a woman, both in their 30s, who were detained on suspicion of human trafficking and offences related to slavery, servitude, and forced or compulsory labour. Additionally, another man in his 30s was apprehended at the abattoir after attempting to evade police by fleeing the site and hiding on a nearby roof. GMP confirmed that the man, an Albanian national, was living and working illegally in the UK and is now being processed by Home Office immigration teams.

The operation was prompted by allegations from a man who claimed he was forced to live in the abattoir and work around the clock to repay “extortionate debts” linked to a sponsorship visa and travel expenses. During the late-night raid, officers interviewed 30 workers on-site and seized mobile phones, computer equipment, and documentation as part of their ongoing investigation.

Detective Sergeant Lee Attenborough highlighted the prevalence of modern slavery in Greater Manchester and urged victims or those who suspect someone they know might be affected to come forward. “You will always be taken seriously, and protection and support are available,” he assured.

The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the alleged human trafficking and forced labour activities.

BBC News 

Throughput

Last week, 31,026 cattle were processed in DAFM-approved plants, marking a slight increase from the previous week. Year-to-date cattle throughput is currently 6% lower than the same period last year, totaling 61,102 head. This decline is attributed to a contraction in cattle numbers on the ground and a lively export trade, with numbers expected to remain tight for much of 2025.

Average carcass weights continue to trend below previous years due to a challenging grass growing season and an increasing dairy influence on the prime cattle kill. This downward trend in average carcass weights is expected to persist in the short to medium term, as calf registrations to suckler cows continue to decline, while the number of beef-sired calves produced from the dairy herd continues to rise.

Prices

This week saw a lift in the steady base quotes at Irish meat plants in response to tighter supplies. Producers were generally offered a base price of €5.70/kg for steers, with reports of up to €5.80/kg available. Starting quotes for heifers are around €5.85/kg, with similar room for negotiation. The trade for young bulls remains steady, with prices between €6.00/kg and €6.10/kg for R grading animals under 24 months of age.

The cow trade remains relatively steady, with well-fleshed O+ grading suckler cows being offered prices of €5.20-5.30/kg, while O grading dairy cows generally range from €5.05-5.15/kg. A significant proportion of the cow kill has achieved a conformation score of P in recent months, and prices for these animals vary significantly based on grade, weight, and quality.

For the week ending January 12th, 2025, the average price paid by Irish beef processors for R3 increased slightly by 2c/kg to €5.72/kg. This remains 63c/kg ahead of the corresponding week in 2023, when the R3 steer price was €5.09/kg. Reported prices exclude VAT but include all bonus payments such as in-spec bonus and breed-based producer groups.

EU and UK Prices

Across the EU, the average reported price for R3 grading young bulls was €5.61/kg (excluding VAT) for the week ending January 12th, 2025. This is 63c higher than Week 1 of 2023, when prices averaged €4.98/kg for this category.

In the UK, tighter cattle supplies and firm demand have continued to firm deadweight beef prices. This week, the average UK R3 steer price increased by 3c/kg to €5.57/kg.

Bord Bia

 

Quotes

Base quotes from major processors have seen a slight improvement this week, ranging from €9.00/kg to €9.40/kg for well-finished lambs, with an additional QA bonus available. With increased demand, many major processors have raised the carcass weight limit to 24kg.

Supply and Demand

The relatively tight supply of lambs, coupled with stable demand from both domestic and export markets, has contributed to the firming of the trade throughout 2024. This trend is also evident in other key lamb-producing regions in Europe and the UK. According to the latest Eurostat figures, there has been a contraction in breeding flock numbers in many regions. In Ireland, the ewe flock decreased by 3.7% in the December 2023 census compared to December 2022, a decline of 107,000 head, which has further tightened supplies.

Prices

The reported deadweight price for the week ending January 12th increased by 31% to €8.75/kg, reflecting the ongoing improvement in quoted prices from major lamb processors. In the same week in 2024, the reported deadweight price was €6.62/kg. The deadweight trade has also improved across UK regions. Last week, reported lamb prices in mainland GB were equivalent to €8.29/kg, a decrease of 4c/kg, while in Northern Ireland, there was a notable improvement to €7.95/kg, a decrease of 17c/kg.

The relatively tight supply of lambs for slaughter in Northern Ireland, combined with competition from the live export trade to both mainland GB and ROI, has contributed to this firming of the trade.

Southern Hemisphere Prices

Prices in the Southern Hemisphere remain well below European levels but have improved significantly over the past few weeks, narrowing the price differential with the EU. With a lead time on product shipments, this recent improvement in deadweight prices is expected to impact their competitiveness in EU markets in the medium to long term. This week, prices saw a slight increase to €5.99/kg in Australia and €4.38/kg in New Zealand.

Throughput

There was a decrease in the total sheep kill in DAFM-approved plants last week to 34,008 head, compared to 57,313 in the same week in 2024. Tighter supplies have been a feature of the 2024 lamb season so far, with a smaller lamb crop, difficult lambing conditions, and changeable grass growing conditions all impacting lamb availability for processing. Total year-to-date slaughter is down 32% compared to 2024, totaling 70,274 head.

Bord Bia

 

Danish Crown, the Denmark-based pork processing giant, has announced its decision to sell its facility in Pinghu, China.

This move comes as part of a broader strategic shift within the company. A spokesperson confirmed the sale to Just Food, noting that the Pinghu factory represents a very small part of Danish Crown’s business and did not develop as expected.

The decision to divest the China facility was made by Niels Duedahl, who took over as CEO last August. Duedahl succeeded Jais Valeur, who stepped down as chief executive earlier than anticipated in June.

This announcement follows Danish Crown’s recent decision to cease selling retail-packed fresh meat in Germany, a move aimed at improving profitability. As a result, the Oldenburg Convenience division in north-west Germany will be wound down by the end of February.

In its 2023/2024 report, Danish Crown described the past year as one marked by significant market and geopolitical changes that impacted its operations. Looking ahead to the financial year 2024/25, the company expects a continued decrease in slaughter animal production across Europe.

Although the pace of decline slowed in 2023/24, the downward trend remains challenging and may affect Danish Crown’s supply chain and pricing strategies. The number of slaughtered animals in Northern Europe has decreased substantially, further complicating the company’s outlook.

 

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has welcomed the UK government’s AI initiative, calling for the increased use of artificial intelligence within meat inspection processes.

In a statement, Executive Director Dr Jason Aldiss BEM highlighted the potential for AI to revolutionise the industry, stating: “This initiative presents a crucial opportunity to modernise meat inspection, enhancing efficiency and accuracy.”

AIMS advocates for a shift in the role of meat inspection, focusing on quality assurance rather than solely on food safety. Dr Aldiss explained: “We believe that food business operators should be primarily responsible for conducting these inspections.” He further argued that AI-driven systems can facilitate this transition by replacing traditional human veterinary inspections with more efficient and reliable technologies.

“Recent advancements in AI have demonstrated superior accuracy in identifying defects on carcasses compared to human inspectors,” Dr Aldiss emphasised. “This technology offers the potential to significantly reduce the margin of error inherent in manual inspections.”

AIMS believes that the government’s AI strategy aligns with its vision for the future of the meat industry. By embracing AI, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) can implement more effective and efficient inspection systems, reducing reliance on human inspectors and empowering food businesses to oversee quality assurance directly.

“We urge the FSA and FSS to seriously consider the benefits of AI integration in meat inspection,” Dr Aldiss concluded. “Implementing AI-driven systems will not only enhance the accuracy and efficiency of inspections but also position the UK as a leader in adopting innovative technologies within the food industry.”

AIMS remains committed to supporting the industry through this transition, advocating for policies that promote technological advancement and operational autonomy for food business operators.

Seoul, South Korea – The South Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has announced an import ban on German pork following the confirmation of a highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Germany.

This is Germany’s first FMD case since 1988.

FMD is a highly infectious disease that primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle and pigs, posing a significant threat to livestock populations. In response to the outbreak, the ministry has initiated FMD virus tests on all German pork products imported into South Korea since December 27th.

Approximately 360 tons of German pork, imported between October 26th and November 17th, are currently awaiting quarantine inspection. The ministry stated that it will proceed with clearance procedures for these products through the normal process, as the maximum latent period for the FMD virus is 14 days.

This import ban aims to prevent the introduction of FMD into South Korea and protect the country’s livestock industry. The ministry emphasized the importance of this measure to safeguard the health of domestic livestock and ensure the stability of the agricultural sector.

YONHAP NEWS AGENCY