At yesterday’s Annual General Meeting, BMPA CEO John Powell reflected on a busy and challenging year for the British meat processing industry, highlighting significant progress on some longstanding issues, closer engagement with Government and an increasingly important role for BMPA in shaping the policies that affect our sector.
The past year has also seen a change in leadership, with John taking over from Nick Allen following his retirement in March. The AGM also marked the departure of BMPA President Tom Kirwan after four years in the role, during which he provided valuable experience, wisdom and steady leadership.
One of the year’s most significant achievements was BMPA’s successful joint initial legal challenge against the Food Standards Agency over its charging regime. While the FSA has appealed the judgement and discussions over recalculating the 2025-26 charges which will impact future charges and claims for retrospective reimbursement. However, the case represents an important step in holding regulators to account and ensuring processors are treated fairly.
Labour shortages remain another major concern. This week BMPA submitted a detailed, evidence-based proposal to Government calling for an annual allocation of 1,500–2,000 skilled worker visas, alongside longer-term measures to develop careers, apprenticeships and technical qualifications for the industry. Initial discussions with Defra officials have been encouraging, and BMPA is now seeking ministerial support to take the proposals forward with the Home Office.
A major theme of the year has been BMPA’s growing engagement with ministers, parliamentarians and senior officials.
Following his move to BMPA from Defra, John has secured places on several important Government advisory groups, including those overseeing the UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement and tackling illegal meat imports. BMPA is also directly involved in Defra’s trade engagement programme, including ministerial trade missions and discussions aimed at improving access to overseas markets.
With the UK–EU SPS Agreement approaching, BMPA continues to support a full and open agreement, but is pressing for clarity on implementation, certification and official controls, while continuing to tackle the day-to-day border problems that create unnecessary delays and costs for processors.
Further parliamentary engagement will come through BMPA joining the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Food Security, strengthening our co-operation with other agricultural sectors and helping ensure the processing sector’s contribution to the UK’s food resilience is properly recognised.
The continuing decline in UK beef and sheep numbers is an increasingly serious concern, with implications for future processing capacity, security of supply and national food resilience. BMPA has brought together industry stakeholders to develop policy proposals with the Welsh Government and is working towards a wider UK approach.
Other important areas of progress include:
Looking forward, John emphasised that BMPA’s priority remains delivering practical solutions to the problems members face.
Work will begin on a new three-to-five-year strategy, shaped by member input, alongside continued efforts to strengthen the industry’s voice in Government, Parliament, the media and academia.
There will also be a greater focus on promoting the meat processing industry itself: the career opportunities it offers, the role of meat in a healthy diet and the need for robust, evidence-based responses to misinformation.
The challenges facing Britain’s meat processors remain considerable, but sustained engagement, strong evidence and a united industry voice are essential to securing the sector’s future.
We are the UKs largest trade body for the meat industry and provide expert advice on trade issues, bespoke technical advice and access to government policy makers
We are proud to count businesses of all sizes and specialties as members. They range from small, family run abattoirs serving local customers to the largest meat processing companies responsible for supplying some of our best-loved brands to shops and supermarkets.
We are further strengthened by our associate Members who work in industries that support and supply our meat processing companies.
We are the voice of the British meat industry.
17 Clerkenwell Green
Clerkenwell, EC1 0DP
Tel: 020 7329 0776
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