The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has revealed that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will hold regular conferences with the meat industry to discuss improvements to working conditions and to address issues within the supply chain.
The FSA, along with the Government, had previously issued guidance to businesses within the food sector with dealing with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
However, following the advice, a number of businesses have struggled with new workplace practices, such as staff remaining two-meters apart while on factory lines.
The FSA now says it will stage regular teleconference with the meat industry to help us improve communication up and down the industry and address supply chain problems.
David Lindars from the BMPA appeared on BBC Farming Today to speak about the challenges facing the industry and how processors are struggling with public health guidance.
Lindars said: “The Food Standards Agency that supply the official veterinary surgeons and the meat hygiene inspectors, at the moment they are in a very good place but it is proving very difficult in a big meat processing plant, and small ones, for the public health guidance we’ve got on the two-meter distance rule, that is proving very, very challenging.
“In certain parts of a meat processing plant we’re putting up screens to separate people, but that can’t be done overnight. I have been in the industry for nearly 40 years and I have never experienced anything quite like this. I’ve been through two bouts of Foot and Mouth and various other disease outbreaks and issues and I have never known it like this, ever.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
