11 August 2025 — UK | The UK should lead real food safety reform, says Dr Jason Aldiss BEM, Executive Director of AIMS.

He argues the country still relies on checks designed for the 19th century, while today’s risks are microbial and often invisible.

“Traditional post-mortem inspection is scientifically obsolete,” said Aldiss. “We’re fighting Salmonella, E. coli and Campylobacter. You can’t see them. A poke-and-sniff check won’t find them.”

Why old checks fall short

These methods were built for diseases such as TB and trichinella. International bodies now back risk-based systems instead.
“Codex calls for outcome-focused controls,” Aldiss noted. “WOAH says old inspection does not address modern hazards. EFSA warns it can even spread contamination.”

Aldiss pointed to tools already in use overseas. In New Zealand, plants use Veritide’s fluorescence scanners to spot visible and invisible faecal contamination in real time.
“Machines don’t tire, don’t take breaks, and give data you can act on. In like-for-like trials, they beat human inspectors,” he said.

He also backed proven decontamination steps: hot-water washes, organic-acid rinses and steam-vacuuming. “These interventions can cut microbe levels by up to 99%. They should be standard, not optional.”

Five changes for UK regulators

Aldiss urged swift action:

• Rewrite rules: replace visual-only checks with risk-based, outcome-led standards.

• Invest: fund validation and rollout.

• Mandate proven interventions where needed.

• Retrain inspectors as tech-led auditors, not lesion hunters.

• Lead at Codex and WOAH to push global reform.

“This isn’t deregulation,” he said. “It’s smart regulation. Protect consumers with science, not ceremony. The world is watching. The UK can set the pace or stay stuck in the past.”

See also: AIMS Urges Government to Embrace AI in Meat Inspection

Australia weekly wrap: lamb indicators hit records; cattle yardings rise on processor competition

8 August 2025 — Australia | Australia cattle and sheep wrap: lamb price indicators hit record levels last week, while cattle prices firmed as northern and southern processors competed for stock, according to MLA.

Cattle

Yardings rose 16% to 59,390 head. Most indicators gained 7–20¢/kg lwt; feeder heifer 398¢, restocker heifer 394¢. Processor & Dairy Cow eased to 360–344¢/kg lwt as supply improved.

Sheep

All main lamb indicators set new records, including a Dubbo saleyard high of $477/head. Yardings climbed: lamb +16% to 174,971, mutton +27% to 81,969. Trade and Heavy Lamb pushed above 1,200¢/kg cwt.

Slaughter (w/e 1 Aug): Cattle 150,496 head (−5% w/w, still 8% above the 2025 weekly average). Lamb 357,832 (−3% w/w; ~20% below the YTD average due to plant shutdowns). Sheep 137,340 (+6% w/w).

The Australia cattle and sheep wrap points to tight finished lamb supply and strong bidding for prime cattle. Plant maintenance continues to skew weekly sheepmeat kills, complicating procurement.

Outlook

Watch processor competition for prime cattle, stabilising sheepmeat slaughter as shutdowns wind down, and new-season lamb flow.

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Attribution: Meat & Livestock Australia — “Weekly cattle and sheep wrap,” 8 Aug 2025 (Erin Lukey).

Week ending 2 August 2025 — Ireland | Base quotes for lambs have come under pressure after several steady weeks. Plants are quoting €7.80–€7.85/kg (plus QA bonus), with most carcase weight limits at 21kg. Bord Bia notes higher availability of lambs in the UK and key export markets is tempering demand for Irish product.

Deadweight prices

The Irish deadweight lamb price averaged €7.80/kg for the week ending 2 August 2025. For context, GB averaged €8.73/kg, NI €7.71/kg, Australia €6.65/kg, and New Zealand €5.03/kg. (€/kg dw; weekly change and Y/Y comparisons available on Bord Bia.)

Throughput

Total sheep kill in DAFM-approved plants rose to 38,955 head last week, but weekly throughput remains behind the same week in 2024 (49,465 head). Year-to-date throughput is down 16% at 1,480,644 head, with lower numbers across all categories.

Spec reminder: major processors typically want R grade, fat score 2–3, up to 21kg, with QA status attracting bonuses. Bord Bia

See also: Irish cattle trade: tighter supplies lift quotes; R3 steer hits €7.56/kg

Week ending 2 August 2025 — Ireland | Irish cattle supplies tightened again, pushing factory quotes higher across the board. Total throughput reached 25,471 head, up 915 head week-on-week but 28% below the same week last year (32,451). Year-to-date, overall kill is 4% behind 2024, with cow throughput down 15% amid herd contraction and earlier heavy culling.

Factory quotes (this week)

• Steers: €7.50–€7.60/kg base.

• Heifers: €7.60–€7.70/kg base.

• Young bulls (U <16 months): €7.80–€7.90/kg.

• Cows: P and O grades €7.10–€7.20/kg; R grades €7.30–€7.40/kg (price varies with fat score, weight and quality).

Deadweight prices

• R3 steer average: €7.56/kg, up 8c/kg w/w, back to May levels.

• UK comparison: latest UK R3 steer €7.44/kg, 12c/kg below the Irish equivalent (a sharp reversal from February, when the UK led by €1.17/kg).

• EU R3 young bull average: €6.76/kg, around 80c/kg below Irish R3 steer. (Prices exclude VAT; include bonuses.)

Live exports

Firm demand continues amid tighter EU supplies and some bluetongue-related movement limits. 298,514 head exported up to 26 July, +12% year-on-year (~+33,000). Calf exports top 220,000 (+14% vs 2024). Weanling/store trade is also higher, with strong pull from NI, Spain, Eastern Europe and North Africa.

Market take

Reduced availability and stronger competition for stock are underpinning the trade. With quotes trending up and exports firm, finishers with fit cattle are in a stronger position, while processors face tighter procurement in the short term.

Source: Bord Bia — Cattle Trade & Prices (week ending 2 August). Bord Bia

China extends beef import probe to 26th November, easing near-term risk for exporters

6 August 2025 — China | Beijing has extended its investigation into beef imports by three months to 26 November, giving global suppliers a short reprieve from potential trade curbs while China tries to stabilise an oversupplied domestic market. Officials said the inquiry does not target any single country.

Why it matters

Possible measures (such as quotas) would hit key shippers Argentina, Australia and Brazil. The United States is already feeling pain after China failed to renew many plant registrations in March, leaving “the vast majority” of US facilities ineligible to ship and costing an estimated $4bn in lost opportunities, according to the US Meat Export Federation.

Market backdrop

China imported a record 2.87m tonnes of beef in 2024, but H1 2025 volumes fell 9.5% to 1.3m tonnes as demand slowed. Beijing has stepped up support for the cattle sector and says farm profitability has returned in recent months. Extending the probe “buys time” to see if the industry can recover without safeguards, analysts said.

What to watch next

• Whether China opts for quiet, negotiated fixes rather than formal curbs.

• Any movement on US plant re-registrations.

• Import pace into Q4 as domestic margins improve.

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Source: Reuters, 6 August 2025 — “China extends probe into imported beef, a respite for global suppliers.” Reporting by Ella Cao, Lewis Jackson and Tom Polansek. Link: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/china-extends-probe-imported-beef-respite-global-suppliers-2025-08-06/

Original source: Gov.uk

UK Halal Meat Market: Untapped Potential for Growth

4 August 2025 — UK | The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) says ministers are overlooking the halal meat sector. The group warns Britain is “squandering a post-Brexit advantage” as rivals court high-growth markets.

AIMS says the sector is dynamic and high value at home and abroad. However, there is no formal UK programme to champion halal on trade missions. As a result, opportunities are being missed.

“The halal meat market is not a niche. It is a major global growth segment,” said Executive Director Dr Jason Aldiss BEM. “British producers, processors and certifiers can deliver high-welfare, fully traceable halal meat to world-leading standards. But without government recognition and support, international customers will look elsewhere.”
Industry projections put the global halal economy in the trillions by 2028. Therefore, AIMS wants halal promoted like Scotch whisky, Cheddar and craft gin. Specifically, it calls for trade envoys, commercial attachés and targeted export campaigns.

AIMS addresses welfare head-on. Most UK halal production is pre-stunned and all plants are FSA-inspected and fully regulated. As a result, the group argues that halal can align with high UK welfare and food-safety standards.

AIMS is also pushing for a cross-government plan. It wants DEFRA, DBT and the FCDO to meet sector representatives and design a halal export and market-development strategy. It wants clear priorities and timelines.

What AIMS is asking for

• First, active promotion of UK halal on trade missions in priority regions.
• Second, investment in UK halal assurance to strengthen integrity and consumer confidence.
• Finally, explicit inclusion of halal meat in future trade deals and export campaigns.

“This is not about deregulation,” Dr Aldiss added. “It is about intelligent engagement. If the UK is serious about growth and about promoting British food on the world stage, it cannot leave halal behind.”

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Source: AIMS press release, 4 August 2025.

UK-India Trade Deal Secures £6 Billion Boost and Thousands of British Jobs

23 July 2025 – Seaford, East Sussex

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signed a historic free trade agreement with India. The deal is expected to create over 2,200 jobs across the UK and deliver a long-term economic uplift of £4.8 billion to the nation’s GDP annually.

The agreement, hailed as the most comprehensive trade deal India has ever signed, slashes tariffs on 90% of UK exports to India. Key sectors set to benefit include aerospace, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and financial services. Tariffs on iconic British exports such as whisky will be halved immediately, from 150% to 75%, and reduced further to 40% over the next decade.

“This is a major win for Britain,” said Starmer. “It will create thousands of jobs and unlock new opportunities for businesses.. We’re putting more money in the pockets of hardworking Brits and helping families with the cost of living.”

Key Highlights:

• £6 billion in new investment and export wins, including £5 billion in contracts for Airbus and Rolls-Royce to supply aircraft and engines to Indian airlines.
• Tariff reductions on UK exports such as cosmetics, medical devices, soft drinks, and lamb.
• Enhanced access for UK services and financial firms, including binding commitments on India’s insurance sector and recognition of professional qualifications.
• Unprecedented access to India’s £38 billion public procurement market.
• Support for SMEs, including streamlined customs procedures and digital trade facilitation.

The deal also strengthens bilateral cooperation on defence, education, climate, and technology. It builds on the UK-India Technology Security Initiative launched in 2024 and includes new frameworks to tackle organised crime, document fraud, and illegal migration.

For the UK’s manufacturing and export-driven businesses, including those in the meat and agri-food sectors—the deal opens the door to one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets. India’s middle class is projected to reach 250 million by 2050, with import demand expected to grow by 144% between 2021 and 2035.

As the UK continues to redefine its global trade relationships post-Brexit, this agreement marks a significant step forward in securing long-term economic resilience and global competitiveness.

🔗 Read the official government announcement

Red Meat Offal: A Growing Asset in UK and Global Markets

Published: 21 July 2025
Source: AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board)

Red meat offal continues to deliver significant value to the UK meat industry—both at home and abroad—according to new analysis published by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

Domestic Market: Modest Growth, Loyal Consumer Base

In the year to 15 June 2025, UK consumers spent £30 million on primary red meat offal, up 1.8% in value despite a 7.9% drop in volume to just over 6,000 tonnes. The most popular cuts remain liver, particularly lamb, followed by pork and beef varieties.

• Lamb offal made up more than half of all offal sales.

• Pork accounted for around 30%, and beef 19%.

• Roughly 11% of UK households bought offal during the period.

While older shoppers (aged 55 and over) represent the largest offal-buying demographic—accounting for 75% of all purchases—volumes among retirees declined by nearly 7%. In contrast, there was growth in offal purchases by families with children, signalling emerging opportunities among younger, value-conscious consumers.

Export Market: A £244 Million Trade Channel

UK offal exports totalled £244 million in 2024, with pork leading the way. These exports are essential to maximising carcass value and ensuring full utilisation of each animal, especially as global demand for affordable protein continues to grow.

Breakdown by category:

• Pork offal generated £162 million in export value, with over half going to China. The EU and Philippines were also key destinations.

• Beef offal rose to £70 million, up from £61 million in 2023. France, Canada, the United States, Japan and Ghana were among the top markets.

• Sheep offal contributed £12 million, with 77% of exports heading to EU countries.

The AHDB noted that a significant portion of this trade involves fresh rather than frozen products, especially in sheep offal exports to the EU. Maintaining this export capacity is critical to the ongoing financial health of UK meat processors and producers.

Opportunities for the Trade

• Consumer education and innovation: There is scope to broaden domestic appeal by developing ready-to-cook formats and marketing the health and sustainability benefits of offal.

• Export diversification: While China and the EU remain key markets, further trade opportunities exist in emerging economies with high demand for affordable cuts.

• Supply chain optimisation: As retailers and processors face pressure to maximise value, offal remains a commercially and environmentally valuable channel.

The full AHDB report, including export data and consumer insights, is available on the AHDB website.

GB Pig Prices Edge Up in Q2 2025 Amid Strong Demand and Export Growth

July 15, 2025 | Meatex News Desk

Pig prices in Great Britain continued their modest upward trend through the second quarter of 2025, supported by resilient domestic demand, strong export performance, and recovering EU market prices, according to the latest update from AHDB

Price Trends

Between the week ending 5 April and 5 July, the GB EU-spec Standard Pig Price (SPP) rose by 2.79p/kg, averaging 207.55p/kg. This marks a steady recovery from weaker levels earlier in the year.

Market Drivers

• Retail demand: Domestic sales remained robust, with Kantar data showing a 0.8% year-on-year increase in retail pig meat volumes for the 12 weeks to 15 June. Growth was driven by added-value products and seasonal boosts around Easter.
• Consumer behaviour: Shoppers have been switching from beef to pig meat, likely due to price sensitivity, although some volume has shifted to poultry.
• EU influence: EU pig prices rebounded in Q2, narrowing the gap with UK prices. The EU grade E reference price reached 180.62p/kg by early July, still 27p below the UK level. Germany’s reinstated FMD-free status and strong barbecue-season demand contributed to the rebound.

Trade Performance

• UK exports: Pig meat exports rose 10% month-on-month and 20% year-on-year in May, reaching nearly 27,000 tonnes, with China being the primary growth driver.
• UK imports: Imports also increased, up 9% from April and 3% year-on-year, totalling 66,600 tonnes. Recovering German volumes contributed to the rise.

Despite the increase in imports, the proportion of British pork on retail shelves remained stable, helping to support domestic market strength.

Original reporting by AHDB