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Pig men welcome MLC plans

- 05 May 1999
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05 May 1999

Pig men welcome MLC plans

By FWi Staff

PIG farmers have welcomed plans to restructure the industry, revealed by the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) today.

The MLCs move is intended to see that GB levy payers money is efficiently deployed in the fight for market share.

The new structure is open to consultation across the industry. Under the new order,

  • The new British Pig Executive (BPEX) replaces the MLC Pig Strategy Council;
  • BPEX members will be
    • Six nominations from producer organisations
    • One MLC commissioner
    • The chairman of the Pork and Bacon Promotion Council (PBPC)
    • One nomination each from the British Meat Manufacturers Association and Federation of Fresh Meat Wholesalers;
  • The chairman of BPEX will be nominated from within the membership.
  • The PBPC – responsible for marketing – will report to BPEX.

“It is vital for the whole of the pig industry that we are united in our determination to capture a bigger share of the domestic and international market,” said Don Curry, chairman of the MLC.

“We believe that this new structure will help us to all achieve that,” he added.

The grassroots farmers of the British Pig Industry Support Group (BPISG) welcomed the MLC plan: “This is a good result for pig farmers who are going through the worst crisis they have ever faced.”

BPEX will be formed from the best people the industry can find, and the BPISG is almost certain it will have membership of the new organisation, said the groups East Anglian spokesman, Ian Campbell.

The BPISG had been campaigning for a species specific body. But if the new organisation is successful the BPISG may no longer need to take its campaign any further.

“Weve gone as far as we can at this stage and how much further we have to go depends on how successful the new foundation is,” said Mr Campbell.

Graham England , chairman of the NFU pig committee believes that BPEX will be effective in taking the pig industry forward.

John Godfrey, BPA chairman, welcomed the new initiative, saying that the Association has long argued that the Commission must give greater autonomy to those controlling its pig industry activities. “This change is clear a clear move in the right direction,” he added.

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