Sarah Dyke MP led a Westminster Hall debate, speaking of the importance of the continuation of the small abattoir discount on inspection charges.
At a debate held in Westminster Hall, Sarah Dyke MP for Glastonbury and Somerton made a “strong and comprehensive case” for supporting the abattoir sector through funding, regulatory reform, skilled labour and strengthening Government-industry groups such as the Small Abattoirs Task and Finish Group.
In her opening comments, Dyke said: “The abattoir industry is at crisis point. In 2023, just 60 small abattoirs - those with a throughput of less than 5,000 livestock units per year - were left in the UK. According to a 2022 Food Standards Agency report, small abattoirs are closing at the alarming rate of 10% per year, and within a decade they may well disappear altogether.”
Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner responded with supportive comments for the sector, including recognition of the importance of continuing the small abattoir discount on inspection charges, the need for appropriate and proportionate regulation, and the role that public procurement can play in delivering more local food.
Government must act quickly
In response to the debate, Sustainable Food Trust (SFT) head of policy and campaigns Megan Perry stated: “We were delighted to hear the Minister’s clear understanding of the importance of the small abattoir sector for economic growth, employment, animal welfare and local meat.
“We also welcomed the commitment to continue engaging with industry through the Small Abattoir Task and Finish group, co-chaired by Defra and the Abattoir Sector Group, as well as recognition of the importance of the small abattoir discount on inspection charges and the reiteration of the ambition for half of all publicly procured food to come from local, sustainable suppliers.”
“The future of local and sustainable livestock farming hinges on the existence of this sector.”
Megan Perry, Sustainable Food Trust
Nonetheless, the SFT, whose steering group members include National Craft Butchers (NCB) and the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), said that it urges Government to act more quickly, to “consider abattoirs as vital national infrastructure” and to address the fundamental issues relating to their closures.
Perry continued: “We know small abattoirs need to see action in order to feel the tide is turning on the challenges they have been facing, while the future of local and sustainable livestock farming hinges on the existence of this sector. We are grateful to Sarah Dyke for raising this important issue for debate and hope it results in clear action and outcomes.”
Abattoir Sector Group (ASG) chair John Mettrick commented: “We would like to thank the MPs and Ministers involved in today’s debate, which showed that across all parties and nations a network of smaller and local abattoirs are crucial for the future of farming and local meat.
“We welcome the ongoing collaboration between the ASG and Defra through the co-chaired Small Abattoir Task and Finish Group. We also welcomed calls for the continuation of the Smaller Abattoir Fund which provided a much-needed boost to the sector last year and is already seeing positive results for the abattoirs who applied. However, there remains a need for even greater engagement between industry and Government to actually deliver the growth in this network which all agree is desperately needed.”
