In May, the Government announced that the Farming Investment Fund would include £3m ring fenced for the creation of new abattoirs. This is in turn sparked renewed interest from farmers who wished to build innovative and sustainable small abattoirs to support local meat supply chains, more sustainable livestock production and conservation grazing.
The Abattoir Sector Group (ASG) is now seeking assurances from the new Government that the funding for new abattoirs will be approved, as well as highlighting the work streams that are mid-way to completion and some issues yet to be addressed.
The 5% rule
This included a move to risk-based and proportionate regulation, including adoption of the 5% rule which is currently being progressed by Defra – smaller abattoirs can slaughter up to 5% of the total national throughput without triggering full veterinarian presence and charges.
Other areas which the ASG hoped to be addressed included the shortage of skilled labour and the rising costs of waste, combined with collapse in value of hides and skins. To this end, the group is working with the Small Abattoir Task and Finish Group, co-chaired with Defra.
Writing to the new farming minister, ASG chair John Mettrick said: “I am writing to extend our congratulations on your election to Government and to offer our continued support in addressing the decline of the vital smaller abattoir sector, as well as supporting your wider agenda around farming, the environment and food production.”
Meet Government objectives
“The ASG is well placed to help Government meet its objectives and we have been working with the Defra team to support the smaller abattoir sector for the past two years. It has been positive to have had an open dialogue and collaborative problem solving which we very much hope will continue.”
Meanwhile, in February, the closure of Yorkshire Dales’s last small abattoir spelt disaster for the rural community and the wider food and drink supply chain, warned the Sustainable Food Trust.
