Meat export resumption a positive step, say industry groups
The European Union has agreed to lift the export ban on meat and meat products from certain areas of Great Britain to other EU Member States.
The announcement has been given a cautious welcome by the NFU; the Country Land and Business Association and the National Sheep Association, who warned that, while necessary, it will not solve the problems facing the industry.
The British Meat Processors Association was more cautions in its response saying “it is unlikely the change will result in substantial levels of exports occurring due to the conditions which need to be complied with”.
These changes are expected to come into effect on 12 October, subject to there being no change to the current disease situation.
But conditions apply: These will require animals whose meat goes for export to have been held on the same holding for 30 days prior to slaughter, with no livestock having been brought onto the holding for the last 21 days prior to slaughter. Strict conditions will also be applied at export abattoirs.
DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn welcomed the decision. “While I am aware of the difficulties that remain for some farmers, this is good news for the majority of farmers in Great Britain and reflects the extensive surveillance and epidemiological work that is ongoing.
“I hope that as exports resume this will ease the very real pressures farmers have been facing and we will continue to do all we can to enable exports to resume from the remaining parts of Britain as soon as possible.
DEFRA is to publish detailed guidance on what this means for exporters shortly, and the conditions that will apply. This is expected to include a requirement for veterinary certification about the origin of the meat.
These changes do not affect national domestic controls on movements of live animals within Great Britain.
| NFU |
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| The NFU warned that the beneficial impact of the decision will be limited, first by the size of the area from which exports will remain proscribed, and secondly by the conditions applied to meat for the export market. NFU President Peter Kendall said the decision would come as a relief to those parts of the country that stood to benefit from it, especially to sheep farmers who have seen market prices slump in the absence of the export trade. But he added there would be huge disappointment in the Midlands, parts of the West Country and East Anglia that their exports would remain banned. |
| CLA |
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| David Fursdon, president of the Country Land and Business Association said: “This is the good news we’ve been waiting for, and a welcome step in the right direction.” “At last it looks like we can start to address the factors currently causing serious problems in farming, reduce the backlog of livestock and see a slow return to the normal laws of supply and demand. “This will a testing time for both farmers and government and we must keep a very close watch on the twin threats of foot and mouth and bluetongue.” |
| NSA |
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NSA chief executive Peter Morris said: “Naturally NSA welcomes any relaxation which has the potential to lift prices for sheep farmers and reopens marketplaces. “The sheep industry is so dependant on exports at this time of the year that any change is welcome. “However no-one should be under the impression that this is “problem solved” and that the sheep industry can now get back to normal. “If that is the political message that comes out from this announcement then it is painting a false picture.” |
| BMPA |
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| BMPA director Stuart Roberts said: “Despite the headline of this decision being a welcome injection of good news for an industry which has been hit badly by both Foot and Mouth and Bluetongue in recent weeks.” The volume of exports likely to take place is further diluted by the fact that many of the larger pig processors are inside the area from which exports cannot take place. It is very disappointing that these processors will not be able to export meat even if the pigs themselves are sourced from the area outside the zone. |
| SCOTLAND |
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| Industry leaders in Scotland, where the export ban has been costing £1M each week, have welcomed news. Quality Meat Scotland chairman, Donald Biggar, said it was the news everyone in the red meat sector had been hoping to hear and offers an opportunity to build up sales in the run-up to Christmas and beyond. “It means consignments of lamb from Scotland should be on the way to Europe as early as the 16th of October with beef only a few days later,” Mr Biggar said. “This movement is particularly important for our sheep sector as the export market takes around 30% of all lamb produced in Scotland at this time of year.” But, while the news brought considerable relief, NFU Scotland emphasised that the strings attached to the lifting of the ban were stringent. NFUS vice president Nigel Miller said the move is a small step back to normality for the sheep industry. “But it does not remove the need for the welfare scheme for light lambs, which we are determined, will open shortly. We are now getting reports of lambs dying where they are, so the welfare scheme is needed immediately,” said Mr Millar. |