4 CRAFTBUTCHER l MARCH 2018


INDUSTRY NEWS


Continued from page 3 Te story then switched,


and Tom went to see “what a proper abattoir looked like.” He visited Glossop in Derbyshire to see National President John Mettrick and his brother Stephen. John was quick to point


out the positive aspects of small slaughterhouses and local craſt butchers and how beneficial for everyone it is to have short supply chains. He pointed out that small abattoirs were closing mostly because of over- regulation, increasing costs and drowning under a sea of paperwork. Federation Legislation


Director Philip Edge said: “John deserves congratulations on presenting a superb report on behalf of the small rural abattoirs, I'm sure many of our members will be pleased John was able to put forward such a strong and compelling case for the survival of these small operations. With the problems for the meat trade currently in the catering sector, and whatever Brexit is going to throw at us, our


members need to know that the Federation is looking at and working for their survival in years to come.” Countryfile then finished


the feature with an interview with Bob Kennard, an organic livestock producer in mid-Wales who has just helped produce a report for the Sustainable Food Trust entitled, “A good life and a good death: Re-localising farm animal slaughter”. Federation slaughtering


representative and policy director William Lloyd Williams, Federation HQ staff and President John Mettrick had co-operated with Bob Kennard on the report and helped provide statistics and background. In his interview Bob


warned that “We are now close to the point of no return for small abattoirs. Teir closure will be tragedy for animal welfare and local rural economies”. He urged the government to respond to the main recommendation in his report to set up a task force to find ways of helping small slaughterhouses before it is too late.


QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE As we all know Countryfile is a very influential programme and on the very next day questions were asked in the House of Commons during a debate on live exports. Roger Gale MP for North Tanet said: “Te crux of this issue—


as it happens, this was highlighted on the BBC’s “Countryfile” yesterday— is the shortage of abattoir facilities, which arose way back when we shut half our abattoirs and slaughterhouses because we tried to gold-plate European regulations.” Defra Minister George


Eustace’s reply included. "Te Government would prefer to see animals slaughtered as near as possible to their point of production, as a trade in meat on the hook is preferable to a trade based on the transport of live animals. Te Government are committed to improving the welfare of all animals and share both British farmers’ and the British public’s high regard for animal welfare.” Tere has also been an


encouraging amount of press coverage helping to build pressure.


OTHER ACTIONS President John Mettrick has written to Michael Gove the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. John wrote on behalf of all craſt butchers and small slaughterhouse operators. He backed the call from


John Mettrick (right) and Countryfile presenter Tom Heap


the Sustainable Food Trust for a task force to look for innovative and practical solutions to ensure the survival of small abattoirs. He also called for less red tape and for a change in ante- mortem procedures where


permanent veterinary presence is disproportionate and not risk-based. In the same week


William Lloyd Williams attended a working group meeting at Food Standards Agency headquarters in London. He focussed on the


huge amount of paperwork that was necessary for every batch of animals. Much of the information provided on different forms is duplicated and he also pointed out that smaller operators take in very small batches of animals, so the total volume of paperwork would be many times greater than a large abattoir which might only have one lot of paperwork a day for one large batch of animals. Using IT has not decreased the quantity of paper- based bureaucracy but has increased the amount of computer time required to fill in online forms, many of which duplicate what is already contained in the paperwork. William will be following


this up in a few weeks’ time in all day meetings with senior policy officials at the FSA as well as FSA Chief Executive Jason Feeney. Roger Kelsey, Chief


Executive NFMFT, has also made proposals on ante-mortem inspection to the Strategic Review of Meat Controls which will be reporting to the full FSA Board with proposals for post Brexit changes in legislation.


We will keep you in touch with developments on this vital issue and as always welcome views from members. n


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