Hundreds of UK abattoirs could close if New EU regulations are implemented

150 Organisations Unite to Oppose Threat to the Countryside Smaller UK abattoirs and cutting plants will be forced out of business if two new pieces of EU legislation are implemented, the Country Land & Business Association, National Federation of Women's Institutes and Soil Association warned today. The damaging impact would spread far beyond the meat and livestock industry, and 150 organisations have signed a letter to Defra Secretary of State Margaret Beckett to strengthen the Government's hand in imminent EU negotiations.

Speaking on behalf of the CLA, NFWI and Soil Association, CLA Executive Committee Member Caroline Cranbrook said:

'These new EU regulations would have disastrous consequences and must be stopped. Providing for full recovery from the industry of all meat inspection costs and for changes to the arrangements for disposal of blood by-products, they would spell the end of the line for the UK's small and medium-sized abattoirs, while the large ones would become less competitive.

'The extent of the knock-on effects, on the rural economy and beyond, is vividly demonstrated by the diversity of organisations that have united in opposition to this serious threat to the countryside. Farming and food organisations, environmental, animal welfare, women's, business and tourism bodies, academic institutions and church leaders - all have come together to express their deep concern.

'Defra must stand firm in fighting for the survival of a diverse UK meat processing industry. The Curry Report and the FMD inquiry reports all recognised the significance of small and medium-sized enterprises to a sustainable rural economy. We can't afford to lose our smaller local abattoirs and cutting plants - they currently process 49% of UK livestock and are needed to deal with specialist and local meats, to provide jobs in rural communities and to minimise the distances travelled by animals.'

The EU Proposal for Official Feed and Food Controls proposes full recovery from the industry of all meat inspection costs. In the UK, this would include the cost of Meat Hygiene Service and BSE measures. Charges for all plants would increase substantially. If full cost recovery were applied on a plant-by-plant basis, smaller plants could see the cost per animal increase from around £3 to a staggering £100, while for large plants this would mean an increase from £2 - £3 to £10 per animal. Large plants would become less competitive against their overseas counterparts and smaller plants would cease to be financially viable. The CLA, NFWI, Soil Association and other partner organisations are urging Defra to hold its position on keeping the status quo and maintaining charges at a proportionate level.

The Animal By-Products Regulation, scheduled for introduction in April 2003, would require all abattoirs to collect and store blood for later disposal by costly means not currently employed in the UK. While some large abattoirs already collect and dispose of blood through renderers, many do not and the by-product is disposed of with the approval of water companies via the sewage system or to land. Under the new arrangements, smaller abattoirs would have to invest in refrigerated storage tanks, where blood would await collection, probably on a weekly basis. As well as the expense, this could give rise to planning issues. Disposal by this means would mean substantially increased long-distance lorry journeys, creating additional emissions, hazards and possible nuisance. There is no scientific or other rational basis for the imposition of blood storage and central disposal. The CLA, NFWI, Soil Association and other partner organisations are urging Defra to request a permanent derogation for smaller abattoirs and a transition implementation period for all abattoirs.

The loss of the UK's network of local abattoirs would have serious implications for Defra's rural regeneration and regional food strategies to encourage the marketing of regional and local food. It would also have an impact on Countryside Agency projects, the Regional Development Agencies' food strategies, the Regional Food Groups, Food Links UK, many organic farms, butchers shops in market towns and villages, numerous speciality meat businesses, farm diversification into local and direct marketing, farmers' markets, farm shops, ethnic meat processors, rare breeds, environmental livestock enterprises, livestock farming in remote and upland areas, farm B&Bs and rural pubs. All depend to some extent on local abattoirs, and all would be affected if they go. Add to this the animal welfare and biosecurity issues, and it is not difficult to understand the huge groundswell of opposition to the EU proposals.

Date: 26 November 2002