12 CRAFTBUTCHER l SEPTEMBER 2019


HOME SLAUGHTER BACK ON THE AGENDA


After a five year gap the Food Standards Agency are again proposing new measures that clarify regulations which will result in allowing itinerant slaughter men to kill animals on the farm.


This sudden and unexpected news comes in the middle of on-going talks with the FSA and other government officials trying to find ways to support hard-pressed small local abattoirs. This lack of faith is frustrating and is very bad timing especially with a possible reduction in business for small abattoirs if farmers under pressure from repercussions from Brexit


will only be allowed to be eaten by the farmer and his immediate household it will be very difficult to monitor this. Notifying the local authority is made expressly optional and is only recommended as best practice. Monitoring of animal welfare, hygiene and disposal of animal by-products by an independent body will not take place.


Any meat illegally reaching the market could compromise public health, animal health and the reputation of the whole meat industry. NCB slaughtering spokesman William Lloyd Williams MBE pointed out the inequality of the situation and said: “There will be no real enforcement of this on-farm activity and yet approved operators will continue to suffer constant oversight, for which we have to pay. Vets, meat inspectors and auditors etc., will continue to monitor animal welfare, killing techniques, hygienic dressing, waste disposal and a thousand other things.”


William Lloyd Williams MBE


decide to slaughter on farm rather than use the services of a licensed abattoir.


National Craft Butchers consider that this move will adversely and disproportionately affect small local slaughterhouses, damage confidence in meat supply chains and possibly encourage illegal slaughter, which is already difficult to detect.


Although the meat from animals killed in this way


Past-president John Mettrick agreed adding: “This government are always keen to promote high standards of animal welfare and rightly so. Small Abattoirs have had to invest thousands of pounds last year on CCTV and this year they have to upgrade or buy new stunning equipment to keep up with regulatory change. How can it be fair that these regulations can be bypassed for home slaughter?


Small abattoirs handle a lot of private kills or willingly accept


John Mettrick


small batches of animals and this important revenue is now at risk. NCB will be forcibly responding to the FSA on this issue. The consultation deadline is 28th October and we would welcome comments from all members on this issue. Please call Richard Stevenson on 01892 541412 or email richard@ nationalcraftbutchers.co.uk


Richard, our Technical manager added: “The FSA are not introducing new regulations to effect


INDUSTRY NEWS


this change but instead are proposing to amend guidance. This tactic is not new and avoids the inconvenience of parliamentary and ministerial oversight.


It’s interesting because for the last 25 years the FSA guidance interpreted the legal situation completely differently by expressly banning itinerant slaughtermen and backing it with rigorous enforcement including prosecutions. The consultation documents do not clarify what legislative changes have allowed this dramatic re-interpretation and we will pursue this point appropriately.”


Members can respond direct to the Food Standards Agency if they wish. The consultation is on the FSA website under, “Home slaughter of Livestock”. Responses are requested by 28th October 2019. n


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