BPISG keep up the pressure

By Peter Crichton

In spite of recent price rises BPISG members are continuing to keep up the pressure on retailers and the Government in their bid to gain differentiation for the UK pig industry.

The latest protest took the form of a blockade at the Iceland Stores North London distribution centre in Enfield on Wednesday.

Iceland were targeted because of their continuing use of pigmeat which has been sourced from European countries which do not comply with UK welfare standards.

Steve Archdeacon, the Iceland buying director confirmed in a press statement that 20% of their own brand and branded pork products still come from stall and tether systems, and that their remaining products will all be stall and tether free by 1 June.

Under pressure from the protesters Iceland also conceded that up to 25% of some of their pork products are from castrated pigs.

Once Iceland had promised a series of meetings with the BPISG the Wednesday evening blockade was halted. However BPISG members have promised that further militant activity will be aimed at any other major retailers or caterers who continue to handle pigmeat from non UK spec sources.

The Parliament Square live pig protest also continues being manned on a round the clock basis by NPA members. They have pledged this will carry on for as long as it takes for the Government to address the labelling and other issues which they claim have decimated their industry over the past 2 years.

• Peter Crichton is a Suffolk-based pig farmer offering independent valuation and consultancy services to the UK pig industry