Cyprus Launches Mass Vaccination to Contain Foot and Mouth Outbreak

Cyprus has announced a large scale livestock vaccination campaign following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease on the island.

According to reporting by Associated Press via WFMZ, thousands of goats, sheep, hogs and cattle are set to be vaccinated as authorities move to contain the spread. Foot and mouth disease is highly contagious among cloven hoofed animals. It can have severe trade implications.

In response, the UK government has introduced temporary restrictions on travellers bringing meat and dairy products from EU and EFTA countries into the UK. Farmers across the UK and Ireland are urging heightened biosecurity awareness. They warn that imported food products pose a potential transmission risk.

The situation is likely to be closely monitored by European livestock sectors. This is due to the potential impact on trade flows and export certification.

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Source: WFMZ / Associated Press | 2 March 2026

Middle East instability could shift UK meat prices as AIMS tracker turns negative

UK meat and poultry prices slipped slightly in February, with the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) reporting the first negative month on month movement since it launched its inflation tracker.

AIMS said the overall month on month inflation figure moved to -0.16% (down £0.02 per kg), with beef (-0.45%), pork (-0.56%) and chicken (-0.43%) all showing falls. Lamb was the only category to rise, up +0.58%.

Tony Goodger, Head of Communications at AIMS, said February pricing was “by and large” flat, but pointed to continued upward pressure on an annual basis. Comparing February 2025 with February 2026, AIMS reported prices up 11.99% (around £1.32 per kg), driven mainly by beef. In the tracker, lean minced beef rose £2.55 per kg (+31.91%) year on year, while beef roasting joints increased £3.95 per kg (+30.48%).

Goodger added that pork (+1.84%) and chicken (+0.43%) remain the more affordable switch for consumers seeking to stretch weekly food budgets.

Looking ahead, AIMS warned that developments in the Middle East could influence meat and poultry pricing through both trade flows and logistics.

One scenario outlined by AIMS is that Brazil, a major poultry supplier to the Middle East and one of the world’s largest beef exporters, could look to redirect volumes into markets such as the EU. AIMS said that could potentially pressure European pricing and, in turn, encourage additional EU exports, including Irish beef, into the UK market.

AIMS also highlighted shipping risk. It said disruption in the Red Sea and particularly the Strait of Hormuz can push southern hemisphere routes around the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10 to 14 days to transit times. AIMS said longer routes increase fuel use by up to 40% and raise freight and insurance costs, which can ultimately be passed through the supply chain.

Longer term, AIMS noted that input costs such as fertiliser, animal feed and oil could add inflationary pressure for producers, including in the UK. However, it also suggested that if Middle East tourism and demand were heavily impacted, import volumes could decline, potentially leaving more UK production in the domestic market.

“As ever, with economic thinking, there is rarely a simple answer,” Goodger said, adding that the next few months would be closely watched in the tracker.

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Source: Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) | 2 March 2026

Tasmanian Lamb Exporter Loses Key Market as Middle East Conflict Hits Trade

A major Tasmanian lamb exporter has lost access to its largest international market. This comes as geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East.

According to reporting by ABC News, Tasmanian Quality Meats has been forced to recall hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of lamb bound for the Middle East. This happened after conflict linked to US and Israeli strikes on Iran disrupted trading routes. Previously, the exporter had been sending around 4,000 lambs per week to the region. These were valued at approximately AUD 800,000 (around £420,000 weekly) before shipments were cancelled.

Managing director Jake Oliver said product was returned to Australia to avoid spoilage. The business plans to reprocess and freeze the lamb for sale at much lower returns. Elevated shipping costs into the region and heightened risk perceptions have added to the disruption.

Industry sources warn that high-end air-freighted product destined for the Middle East is also likely to be affected for an extended period. If the conflict persists, exporters will be forced to seek alternative markets.

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Source: ABC News | 2 March 2026

Scottish Pig Sector Hit by Increased Spanish Pork Competition

Scotland’s pig sector is facing renewed price pressure. This is because African swine fever in Spain disrupts export flows and increases competition in the UK market.

According to reporting by The Scottish Farmer, ASF cases in Spain’s wild boar population have restricted Spanish pork access to certain global markets. As a result, competitively priced Spanish product has been redirected into the UK. This is adding supply pressure.

Industry sources indicate that processed pork products in the UK are increasingly likely to contain Spanish origin pork. Fresh retail pork remains largely British. Scottish pig prices have eased back towards break even levels at the start of 2026. However, values are still reported to be nearly 7% above the five year average.

The situation highlights how disease outbreaks in major EU producers can quickly alter trade flows and domestic pricing dynamics.

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Source: The Scottish Farmer | 1 March 2026

Historic Ayrshire Family Butcher Closes After 137 Years

A fourth generation family butcher in Ayrshire has closed after 137 years of trading.

According to BBC News, T Baillie and Sons in Saltcoats has ceased operations as owner James Baillie retires, with no family successor in place to continue the business. The shop had served the local community since the late nineteenth century.

The closure marks the end of one of Scotland’s longstanding independent butcher businesses and reflects wider succession challenges facing traditional high street operators. Many family run meat retailers continue to grapple with rising costs, labour pressures and generational transition issues.

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Source: BBC News | 29 February 2026

ICMSA Raises Concerns Over Beef Factory Grading and Pricing Oversight

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association has raised fresh concerns about the integrity of beef factory grading and pricing systems in Ireland.

According to reporting by Agriland, ICMSA has questioned whether current supervision arrangements are sufficient, following a report from the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. The report indicated that several factories are exempt from price reporting requirements and that on site inspections account for just 3.4% of total throughput.

The association argues that limited oversight risks undermining transparency and could be costing farmers significant sums. Calls have been made for stronger supervision and clearer reporting structures to restore confidence in carcase grading and pricing systems.

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Source: Agriland | 28 February 2026

Dobson Brothers End Remaining Links with Dunbia

Jim and Jack Dobson have formally severed their remaining ties with Dunbia, one of Northern Ireland’s largest red meat processors.

According to reporting by The Irish News, the brothers, who founded Dunbia in 1976, have now fully exited the business. They had stepped back from day to day operations following the 2017 merger with Dawn Meats.

Dunbia grew from a local enterprise into a major red meat supplier across the UK and Ireland before becoming part of the wider Dawn Meats group structure. The move marks the end of the Dobson family’s direct involvement in the company they established nearly five decades ago.

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Source: The Irish News | 27 February 2026

UK Pork Imports Fall to Lowest Level Since 2021

UK pig meat imports declined by 5% in 2025, reaching their lowest annual volume since 2021.

According to reporting from AHDB, the drop came despite a widening price gap between UK and EU pork. Resilient domestic demand and disruptions to shipments from Germany were cited as contributing factors. While imports softened, UK pork exports increased by 3% year on year.

The figures suggest stronger domestic supply retention and shifting trade flows within Europe. Ongoing EU market conditions and currency movements are likely to remain key influences on UK pork trade performance in 2026.

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Source: AHDB | 25 February 2026

Western Isles Council Backs Stornoway Abattoir with £60,000 Support

The UK’s only local authority operated abattoir has secured a further year of financial support.

According to reporting by BBC News, via AOL, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has approved £60,000 in funding to keep the Stornoway facility on the Isle of Lewis operating for another year. The abattoir, which primarily serves island crofters, has been running at a deficit and its longer term viability remains under review.

Councillors are reportedly divided over the future of the plant, with some advocating continued public backing to protect local livestock processing capacity, while others have called for alternative operating models to be explored.

The decision highlights ongoing pressures facing small scale and remote abattoirs across the UK, where throughput levels and operating costs continue to challenge sustainability.

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Source: BBC News (via AOL) | 25 February 2026

Meat Processors Urge UK to Align with EU SPS Rules to Cut Border Red Tape

UK meat processors are calling on the government to align more closely with EU food safety rules in a bid to remove post Brexit border friction.

According to reporting by FarmingUK, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) is urging ministers to pursue dynamic alignment with EU sanitary and phytosanitary rules to reduce duplicate controls, paperwork and certification requirements. The group argues that the current system of border checks and administrative processes is increasing costs and undermining the competitiveness of UK exporters.

AIMS has warned that smaller processors are being disproportionately affected, with additional compliance burdens making EU trade less viable for some businesses. Industry representatives say regulatory alignment would help restore smoother trade flows and improve export certainty, particularly for chilled meat shipments where timing remains critical.

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Source: FarmingUK | 25 February 2026