Food Standards Agency Abattoir Proposals

EDM number 1405 in 2010-12, proposed by Jonathan Edwards on 04/02/2011.
Categorised under the topics of Animal diseases and Food.

That this House expresses its concerns about the impact upon small- and medium-sized abattoirs in Wales of Food Standards Agency plans for full cost recovery of meat hygiene controls at slaughterhouses which farmers unions in Wales warn may close as a result of these charges; notes the estimate that over 50 per cent. of cattle, 70 per cent. of sheep, 25 per cent. of pigs and 40 per cent. of poultry are slaughtered in independent, small- and medium-sized plants; remembers the key role played by small- and medium-sized abattoirs in the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak where local slaughterhouses reduce the risk of the disease spreading by ensuring animals did not have to travel significant distances to slaughter; supports locally reared and slaughtered meat from independent retailers which have a low number of travel miles and keeps small businesses profitable; and calls for the Food Standards Agency to re-consider these plans to raise prices for abattoirs.

This motion has been signed by a total of 13 MPs.