Meat processors seek compensation for foot and mouth disease costs

Meat processors are seeking compensation for the £16M in extra costs they have incurred following the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD).

The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) wants to recover the costs incurred by its members from the government-owned Pirbright animal health facility, where the FMD originated. It is currently seeking legal advice.

The BMPA is critical of the fact that although financial support has been provided by government for rural communities hit by the outbreak, nothing has been given to the meat sector. Meat processors are particularly incensed since much of the sector is currently in financial difficulties and faced with additional costs as a result of reform to the Meat Hygiene Service.

Stuart Roberts, director of the BMPA, said: “In relation to the foot and mouth outbreak it appears that the government’s own principle that the polluter pays does not apply. I must assume that if robust systems had been in place at the Pirbright site then the 2007 foot and mouth outbreak could have been avoided.

“History is littered with examples of companies who have had to deal with the financial consequences of releasing pollutants into the environment and I see no reason why this incident should be treated differently.”