Jiglu: Farmtalking: Discussion: Re: RE: CONCERNS OVER LIVE EXPORTS

Originally from: coleen

When I asked a Vet as to why the abattoirs has closed, he said it was simply down to money. Many of them did not meet EU standards (is this a joke) and there was not the money to bring them into line.

Several weeks ago I read of several farmers trying to get together to reopen the Carlisle abattoir. I have not read if they managed this or not.

I was wondering why some of these consortiums do not apply for lottery grants... After all the field is wide and diverse as to what the lottery supports, The re-opening up local abattoirs does put jobs back into the community. I was thinking of the Islands – Joyce would this work do you think? Surely this should also get the backing of the AR people, as it would mean less live trade! Perhaps we should do canvassing and see how the land lies. In this surely, we could 'come together'.

Coleen

----- Original Message -----
From: ...
Originally from: "David" <...>
To: "SueStaunton" <...>
Cc: "Fmdnew" <...>; "Farmtalking" <...>
Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2002 10:45 AM
Subject: [farmtalking] RE: CONCERNS OVER LIVE EXPORTS
Hi Sue,
You have been quiet. Have you had a better season on the B&B?
Regarding your query about vet charges, I suppose this is still a result
of
the changes the EU brought in for meat inspection – a diktat the Tories
forced on the industry TWO years earlier than was required. – Overzealous
bureaucrats! The change was that, in accordance with customs in France,
Germany etc., vets had to carry out the meat inspection. I'm not
positive
but I think in the confusion vets went into slaughter houses (not having
been trained to be meat inspectors) and inspected the live animals to see
if
they were healthy enough to be slaughtered whilst the local authority meat
inspectors carried on with their job. The rule that that affected the
cost
was that vets are supposed to be in attendance at all times while
slaughtering is being carried out whilst a meat inspector would call by,
say
in the morning, to check that the carcases had set properly and decide if
any should be rejected.
Obviously this led to a serious burden on small slaughterhouses who only
slaughtered a few a day to the extent that they went out of business. A
big
slaughterhouse killing thousands a day can cope with the cost of the vet.
Take care
David
-----Original Message-----
From: SueStaunton [...]
Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2002 8:38 AM
To: David
Subject: Re: CONCERNS OVER LIVE EXPORTS
Thanks for this David, I shall read it in more detail later when time
permits. One point I would like to make is re this though:
"The plain fact of the matter is that EU rules have got rid of local
slaughter houses and there are now insufficient slaughter houses in the Uk
to cope – so that issue MUST be addressed if we are to ban live exports."
I am not necessarily disputing what you say, but coincidentally whilst
clearing out a whole pile of 'Country Living' magazines just the other day
in preparation for our house move (yes not the ultimate trade sheet I
know,
but some interesting info nonetheless) I got sidetracked, as you do, and
read that one of the major factors was not so much EU legislation which
put
so many local abattoirs out of business, but more the way Vets. fees for
visiting are structured. Now I might have this the wrong way round as I
can
no longer find the article, but I am sure it was that here they get paid
by
the hour whereas in mainland Europe they get paid per beast. sounds a
fairly typical "jobsworth" British resolution to the situation, guarantee
someone an income regardless of whether they inspect 10 animals in a day
or
1000, but clearly it would make a colossal difference to a small
family-run
operation
Hope things are well with you
Sue
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