UK lamb prices are holding up, despite major protests by farmers in France who have been blocking roads, which has disrupted British lamb exports heading to the Continent.

The GB deadweight lamb SQQ increased by 23.6p/kg on the week to 631.8p/kg, with lower throughputs at abattoirs.

Prices at auction markets were also up, with the liveweight SQQ at 296.2p/kg for the week to 27 January.

Auctioneers say while finished prices have been strong in the past week, supply could catch up with demand if retail markets remain quiet and export markets stay disrupted.

Rizvan Khalid, managing director at Shropshire-based exporter Euro Quality Lambs, told Farmers Weekly the French protests had already had an effect on logistics, with at least one lorry missing its delivery.

As a result of the protests, there are currently fewer buyers at Rungis International Market in Paris, which is affecting sales, according to Mr Khalid.

 

Charlie Reeve | Farmers Weekly

Irish beef farmers are a step closer to achieving protected geographical indication (PGI) status in the EU for certified Irish Angus Beef.

If successful, this could allow beef producers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to receive a premium for Aberdeen Angus cattle.

However, concerns have been raised by some in the UK beef sector that it could be potentially detrimental to the wider industry if specific breeds from set regions are given PGI status.

A two-month opposition window has now begun as part of the PGI application process before it can be formally submitted to the EU Commission.

Ireland’s agriculture minister, Charlie McConalogue, said: “I thank the certified Irish Angus producer group for its work in bringing forward this application for PGI status for their product.

“I am delighted that the application has progressed to this stage, and I am aware of the significant amount of work that has been undertaken to date.”

If the application is successful, beef farmers in Ireland would then need to register with the Irish Angus Cattle Society in order for their cattle to be certified.

 

 

Charlie Reeve | Farmers Weekly

THE chairman of the Smithfield Market Tenants’ Association used a formal breakfast this week to complain about delays to the opening of the Museum of London on the Smithfield site.

Speaking on Wednesday in the presence of Lord Mayor Nicholas Lyons at Butcher’s Hall in Bartholo­mew Close, Clerkenwell, Greg Lawrence warned that “the market must continue to flourish until we can move, or there will be nothing to move,” as he criticised delays to the museum project.

The poultry market closed last month, marking the beginning of the end of meat being sold at the historic Clerkenwell site, with just two buildings remaining.

“We hope to see [the Museum of London] open in just two years’ time,” said Mr Lawrence. “All the delays caused by the City, must be owned and resolved and let us learn that lesson at last: the most expensive decisions are the decisions deferred.”

After listening to Mr Lawrence’s concerns Lord Mayor Nicholas Lyons, whose year-long tenure ends next month, joked: “Chairman, I think we really ought to get off the fence from time to time.”

He praised the traders, after a tour of the market.

A statement released by the museum said: “Negotiations between the City of London Corporation and Smithfield Market Tenants’ Association to gain vacant possession of the Poultry Market building concluded later than expected and a consequence of this is that we will now phase the project opening.”

 

By Charlotte Chambers | Islington Tribune 

Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain. 

The EU-spec SPP was down by a further 1.62p during the week ended October 14 to stand at 220.12p/kg, after stabilising the previous week.

This was the second biggest fall of the year, meaning the SPP has now lost 5.5p since mid-August and currently stands 20p ahead of a year ago.

Following the previous week’s loss of 1.5p, the APP, which includes premium pigs, lost another 0.61p to stand at 221.08p/kg during the week ended October 7. This meant the gap between the two price indexes increased once again, with the SPP now 0.65p ahead of the APP, as the reversal of the usual relationship continues.

One of the biggest drivers in the decline of UK prices is falling EU prices. The EU reference price dropped back by a further 2p during the week ended October 8 to stand at 193.78p/kg, led by falls of 4p in Spain, 3p in Germany and 2p in France.

EU prices are falling much more quickly than in the UK. The EU reference price is now nearly 22p down on its mid-July high and the latest drop has increased the gap between the UK and EU reference prices to beyond 25p, compared with low of just 6p during the week ended July 23. Prices in a number of EU countries, led by Germany, fell back further last week.

Estimated GB slaughterings remain well below year earlier levels. The figure for the week ended October 14 was down by more than 1,000 on the week, and at 160,300, it was 27,500 down on the same week in 2022.

It also needs to noted that AHDB’s estimated slaughterings going back for a few weeks have been significantly revised downwards, including the figure quoted last week for the week ended October 7, 169,000, which has been lowered to 161,600, also 27,000 down year-on-year.

 

 

Pig World / AHDB

Pork production in the EU was 8% down, at 11.9Mt, over the first seven months of this year, the second successive year of significant decline. 

The production figure for January to July was also 10% down on the five-year average. The EU Commission’s latest forecast is for pig meat production in 2023 to end the year down 6.6%.

Production in all key producing countries has fallen year on year, with the largest declines in Germany of 236,000t (-9%), and Denmark down 202,000t (-21%). Volumes in Spain and the Netherlands were down between 143−144,000t from the same time last year, down 5% and 15% respectively.

These drops were driven by large reductions in slaughter levels. EU throughputs totalled 126.1m head in the year to July, with slaughter in key producing countries down similar percentages to production.

Lower supplies in the EU have led to significant growth in prices across the EU over the past few months over the spring and summer . However, prices have declined from these highs down to an average of 196.4p/kg for the 4 weeks ending October 1, as demand has eased.

This is a fall of 5.8p from the previous four-week period, and down nearly 20p from highs seen towards the end of July, with weak demand at home and internationally seen as the main driver.

 

Alistair Driver | Pig World

The UK has lifted reinforced inspections on meat products from Brazil after analyzing the country’s control system.

The decision covers consignments of beef, poultry, and meat products and preparations exported from Brazil to England, Scotland, and Wales. It comes after an audit of Brazil’s sanitary and phytosanitary controls.

Following allegations of fraud in Brazil in 2017 during Operation Carne Fraca, measures were implemented for enhanced checks on certain imported animal products.

For beef and poultry meat products from Brazil, exports to Great Britain no longer need enhanced pre- and post-import testing for Salmonella or the added attestation attached to health certificates confirming Salmonella sampling, methods of analysis used, and results.

Post-import physical checks for poultry and beef products will be reduced from 100 percent physical and 20 percent microbiological sampling. Brazil can now re-list certain poultry and beef sites for export to Great Britain.

Auditors visited central and regional authorities, two certification centers, eight slaughterhouses, four other businesses, two farms, and four laboratories. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply (MAPA) leads official controls and certification of exports of animals and animal products. The Department of Inspection of Animal Products (DIPOA) is responsible for managing the Brazilian Federal Inspection Service (SIF).

Brazilian authorities have made “significant” progress in correcting the systemic failings in the framework of controls and their application that led to enhanced Salmonella controls. According to Defra, changes to legislation and a restructuring of the authorities have strengthened the regulatory oversight of exports and clarified accountabilities.

By Joe Whitworth | Food Safety News

British authorities have decided to lift the reinforced controls on Brazilian meat, Brasilia’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture announced Monday, according to Agencia Brasil.

The measure was adopted nine months after a technical team visited the South American country.

Now Brazilian health authorities will be able to enable companies authorised to sell meat to the United Kingdom, a system called “pre-listing,” it was explained.

The United Kingdom will also start treating cases of avian influenza at the state level. Thus, any outbreaks of the disease in Brazil will only lead to the closure of the market for poultry meat from states with registered occurrences. Until now, the British government suspended purchases from the entire country in such cases.

In a joint statement, the two ministries said that the British government’s health audit mission found that Brazil had resolved issues related to sanitary and phytosanitary regulation that had led to the adoption of enhanced controls on Brazilian meat.

“The decision of the British authorities confirms the excellence of Brazilian official health controls, which guarantee the quality and safety of products consumed in Brazil and in importing countries,” the two ministries said.

 

 

Merco Press

Pilgrim’s UK Ashton-under-Lyne pork processing site will process pigs for the last time today, as the sector called the firm’s decision ‘disappointing’.

Pilgrim’s Ashton site will kill pigs for the last time on Friday (7 July), with existing operations transferring to the company’s abattoir and butchery facilities in Spalding and Westerleigh.

Pilgrim’s UK announced proposals to close the 70-year-old abattoir and butchery facility in Greater Manchester in May, leaving more than 500 members of staff potentially facing redundancy.

“Pilgrim’s UK has been working closely with the site team and customers to ensure we maintain quality and service levels throughout this process,” the company said.

Pilgrim’s UK, one of the UK’s largest food businesses, had shut down its Bury St Edmunds and Coalville sites last year.

The UK pork sector continues to face the most significant challenges in its history, with the UK sow herd having contracted by around 15%.

 

 

by Farming UK

Ongoing asymmetry in UK-EU trade threatens to push up food prices in the UK, BPC chief executive, Richard Griffiths, told attendees at new conference Trade Unlocked.

Trade Unlocked – supported by UK Trade and Business Commission and Best for Britain – brought together parliamentarians, businesses leaders and trade experts to discuss trade and ways to boost growth to deliver a better future for all people in the UK.

In a panel session on Standards and Regulation, Griffiths said: “We need equality in trade. If we are to move forward as a sovereign nation, we need Government to get serious about developing a set of standards they believe in and keep at the heart of trade. Only then will we have an opportunity to build positive relationships with trading partners.”

For poultry meat exporters it is certainty and consistency that are key to a profitable and sustainable food system. On the repeated failure to implement full controls on product entering UK from EU, Griffiths, said: “Import checks have been postponed four times in two years, costing BPC members millions. The current system, that some industries are yet to feel the full weight of, is adding to already soaring production costs and eroding business viability. The longer disparity in UK-EU trade goes on, the harder it will get to address it.”

Poultry is half the meat the nation eats but additional administration and red tape has cost exporters well over £100 million since 1 January 2021. EU exporters have paid £0 and continue to enjoy a competitive advantage. The lack of a level playing field, combined with a Government that “is not defending our food standards,” is penalising poultry meat businesses and adding to inflating production costs, “threatening to undercut domestic production with cheaper imports and push up food prices in the UK amid a cost-of-living crisis,” Griffiths told attendees.

 

 

by Chloe Ryan | Poultry News