Farmers needed to save small abattoirs: Farming groups launch survey to make case to government

The farming industry is being called upon to complete an important online survey regarding their use of abattoirs and the importance of an abattoir for their business.

The survey, launching Wednesday 5^th March, aims to gather evidence to show the role smaller local abattoirs play in particular, and how abattoir closures have impacted farmers. 

This follows a call for evidence from the Food Standards Agency last September regarding the small abattoir discount on meat inspection charges, with a more in-depth review currently being carried out.

Concern has grown in the industry that the current discount, which represents up to 90% of charges for some abattoirs, could be under threat. According to the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, 40% of small-medium sized abattoirs would close without the discount. This could have widespread negative impacts on consumer access to local meat, the viability and growth of farming and rural businesses, and the delivery of environmental land management. 

Farming groups that are members of the Abattoir Sector Group are therefore looking to build evidence and case studies to make it clear why government should continue supporting the sector.

"We need to hear directly from those on the frontlines of farming to understand how abattoirs are important for their businesses and what the impact would be of losing the services they provide. We are particularly looking to understand how the wider economic, environmental and consumer benefits would be harmed. From our initial research it is clear that losing these services could have a devasting impact for local meat businesses and sustainable livestock farming. Abattoirs have already declined from 2,500 in the 1970s to just 200 today and further closures will leave farmers with nowhere to go," said Megan Perry, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the Sustainable Food Trust. 

Adrian Steele, Organic Sector Development Advisor for the Soil Association, said: "You would expect policymakers to be working to improve and enhance shorter supply chains, with a strategic focus on growing a resilient local food economy, supporting the long-term growth of food processing hubs such as packhouses and abattoirs across the UK. If the small abattoir discount is removed, it will have the opposite effect, and will devastate local food economies throughout England and Wales."

Christopher Price, Chief Executive of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, said: "A sustainable livestock sector depends on there being a network of local abattoirs capable of processing a diverse range of species and breeds to meet the farmers' needs. There is little point in government claiming to support farming, particularly in some of our most marginal areas in which extensive livestock farming is the only option, if it removes or significantly reduces the small abattoir discount which will inevitably result in the destruction of a significant part of the small abattoir sector."