Carcase splitting delay is ‘huge setback for the sheep sector’
Defra’s announcement that a fixed cut-off date for carcase splitting will no longer be implemented in time for the 2019 season has been described as a ‘huge setback’.
The NFU and other industry organisations have campaigned for over a decade to change the way lambs are aged from dentition checks to a cut-off date.
The NFU and other industry organisations have campaigned for over a decade to change the way lambs are aged from dentition checks to a cut-off date, which would improve accuracy and transparency and also ensure that farmers are paid fairly for the value of their product.
Responding to Defra’s announcement, NFU livestock board chairman Richard Findlay said: “In November last year we received a commitment from Defra ministers that the new regulation would be in place for this season. It is unacceptable that this has now been completely overturned with no indication of when it will be implemented.
“It is needless to say that the delay in implementation is a huge setback for the UK sheep sector and that Defra’s failure to follow through on its commitment is extremely frustrating.
“The decision also continues to load costs on to the industry as it spends an estimated £24 million a year on dentition checks, which would be unnecessary if a cut-off date were used. It comes on the back of another Defra announcement that costs of £7.50 per sample for testing fallen stock of cattle over 48 months for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathiy (TSE) will be passed on to the industry from April this year.
“While we understand Defra’s concerns about negotiating the UK’s status as a third country, and the NFU has always said that maintaining free and frictionless trade with the EU is vital for the British food and farming industry, it should never prevent necessary domestic regulatory changes from taking place.
“Especially when, as is the case here, the European Commission had already indicated it would be happy for the UK to age lambs using a cut-off date.”
Defra ministers and the chief veterinary officer are said to have highlighted concerns about the effect of introducing the rule change on the possible need for the UK to regain an EU third country listing in the event of a ‘no deal’ or a delay to Brexit negotiations.
Meat industry reaction
Responding to the announcement a spokesperson for the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) said: “We wholeheartedly agree that this last-minute U-turn by Defra is deeply frustrating for everyone involved in the sheep industry, including SAMW member businesses who are stuck with an inadequate system which the Government previously agreed was inadequate.
“It hardly gives us confidence as heavily invested businesses working to extremely tight margins that Defra is going to get it right going forward. If they can’t sort this issue then what chance US hormone beef imports?”
Norman Bagley the Head of Policy at the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) was characteristically direct in his view saying: “Over time I have come across many less than satisfactory outcomes in dealing with Defra but this one is on another scale of incompetence, broken Ministerial promises, lame excuses and being led up the garden path by officials, and treated as village idiots.
“Once I have scraped myself off the kitchen ceiling I might tell you what I really think, but for now this will have to do. Whitehall farces are normally funny, but not this one”.
Richard Stevenson the Technical Manager at National Craft Butchers was also incredulous saying: “Along with others in the meat and livestock industry, National Craft Butchers have spent the last two or three years discussing this issue with regulators. We thought we had found a way to move to a new age definition that pleased all parties, whilst complying with EU legislation.
“It seems now that all that hard work and expense was for nothing, and that Brexit can be used as an excuse for procrastination.”
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