Meat industry sees red over rule changes

SCOTLAND’S red meat industry has united in opposition to Scottish and UK government recommendations for changes to live animal transport regulations.

If recommendations in a Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) report were adopted, stock could only be moved when the temperature is between 5C and 30C, and could not be transported by sea if “sideto-side or up-and-down motions could occur”.

The Defra consultation has closed, but the industry has until today to respond to the Scottish Government’s version.

The aim, however, is to have consistent legislation across the UK.

A Scottish crossindustry group that includes sheep, beef and pig organisations as well as meat wholesalers and traders, auctioneers and the farmers’ union, insists that if the proposals were implemented they would devastate Scotland’s red meat supply chain.

In a submission, the Red Meat Resilience Group states prohibiting transport when the external temperature is below 5C would rule out movement from November to March in Scotland and adds that the proposals don’t reflect the Scottish livestock industry’s already robust systems and safeguards.

The FAWC report states transport should only occur when essential, but there is a lack of slaughtering capacity in Scotland, with more than half of sheep and pigs born here slaughtered outside the country each year.

There are also fears over the impact live export rules may have on farmers and crofters on Scottish islands who send stock to the mainland for finishing.

Scottish Government regional census data for June 2020 said nearly 825,000 sheep and 125,000 cattle on Scotland’s islands could be impacted.

RMRG chairwoman Kate Rowell said: “In Scotland, our assurance schemes mean farmers, hauliers, auction marts, processors and feed merchants must adhere to standards to ensure the best quality of life for animals throughout the supply chain.”