British Meat Processors Association
British Meat Processors Association

Live Updates

BMPA updates, as they happen, on developing issues in the meat industry.

Contains links to member only content.

14 Mar

Pigs: Government response to pig industry review

The government response to AHDB’s pig industry review (published in April 2021) has been released this week. The review looked at how changes to the industry in the past decade could affect current legislation to meet future challenges relating to pig health and disease control.

This new document includes the government response, line by line, to each recommendation in the independent review on the structure of the pig industry in Great Britain. It covers issues such as data sharing and traceability systems across the devolved nations, and meeting requirements for the China market. Crucially, it says that Defra will support discussions with the major production companies (integrators) to inform development of the new system. BMPA will be reviewing the responses in detail and working closely with members, government and stakeholders to push for a solution that benefits consumers and works for the industry.

Read more

14 Mar

Labelling: Government launches consultation on ‘fairer’ food labelling of pork, chicken and eggs

Defra is calling for responses to a consultation into food labelling, which aims to improve transparency and consumer choice. Among other things, It says one of the aims is to allow people to choose between products that meet or ‘fall below’ UK animal welfare standards.

The consultation runs until 7 May ‘2024.

Read more

14 Mar

Workforce: Home Secretary’s response on labour shortage shows he’s not acknowledging the problem

With the new one-size-fits-all £38,700 immigration rule about to be implemented, we wrote to James Clevery to explain the impact it will have on the meat industry, particularly in light of Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey’s assertion that the UK is “at or near full employment”. But the Home Secretary’s response makes it clear that he either doesn’t appreciate or won’t acknowledge the scale of the problem.

So, BMPA has now written to Minister of State Tom Pursglove calling for him to arrange an urgent meeting with the CEOs of Britain’s largest meat companies so they can lay out the damaging consequences of this policy including food inflation, withdrawal of investment, weakened domestic food security and lower economic growth.

Read our letter to Tom Pursglove (PDF)

Read our letter to James Cleverly (PDF)

14 Mar

Exports: Unforeseen trade barriers with Australia surface since the deal was signed

British farmers and manufacturers are discovering the hidden shortcomings of the new free trade agreements that our government has been negotiating over the past few years. Farmers Weekly journalist Michael Priestly has been delving further into the barriers to trade that were inadvertently written into the Australian deal and quotes AHDB’s Phil Hadley on how the approval process to rectify it (by requesting access for British beef into the Aussie market) could take between 3 and 5 years.

In his letter to Kemi Badenoch (PDF), Nick Allen, CEO of BMPA, proposed a solution which we would strongly urge the Government to also consider during future trade negotiations. He says that government should request “that Australia reciprocate and allow the import of UK beef and lamb without preconditions. If needed this can be done on the basis of pre-listing, allowing trade to commence with audits taking place later and regularly thereafter in the normal manner”.

Read more

8 Mar

Vets: EFRA Committee to hear evidence on vet shortages

The EFRA Committee will hear evidence on Tuesday 12 March on the continued shortage of Official Veterinarians available to work in the meat supply chain, which threatens to seize-up the UK’s meat export trade. With the extra pressure of new import checks, this will only get worse. 

This begs the question: is it now time to review the roles of vets in the food supply chain? Should we consider a similar system to ones in operation in several European countries like Spain? This is where Meat Inspectors receive special training, which is a subset of full veterinary training, so they can deliver the appropriate level of expertise in the meat supply setting. It’s akin to the division of labour between Dental Surgeons and Dental Nurses. If this kind of role were to be created, it would substantially reduce the pressure on the small number Official Veterinarians and reduce the reliance on immigration to fill the workforce gaps.

Read more

8 Mar

Welsh government farming proposals will cost jobs and damage the economy

The British Meat Processors Association has written to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, Lesley Griffiths, to raise deep concerns about proposals in the Consultation on the Sustainable Farm Scheme. We believe it will damage the economy, reduce tourism, impact biodiversity and discourage future investment in Wales.

By the Welsh Government’s own calculation, the new scheme will see 5500 jobs lost in agriculture, and see livestock production reduced by 122,000 livestock units, which is equivalent to 90% of the beef processing in Wales. You can read our press release and the full letter.

Read more

8 Mar

Trade: Uneven Oz trade deal shuts out British beef exports

It has recently emerged that, under the UK/Australia free trade agreement (FTA) which was hurriedly rushed through by Liz Truss, we are prepared to import Australian meat and meat products without restriction, but are unable to export British beef to that market despite there being an FTA.

This lop-sided agreement that precludes UK producers from exporting beef products to Australia only came to light when one enterprising company tried to do it. They currently have a ready made Aussie market with a healthy demand for their beef jerky but, because there’s no reciprocal agreement for beef, they can’t supply it, and will probably see their customers turn to other countries like South Africa to source the product.

There’s a bigger picture to consider here. We need to impress upon the Government that such an oversight can’t happen again when negotiating future free trade agreements, and we’ve written to Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch to highlight the issue. If government is going to encourage businesses to reap the Brexit benefits of finding new trading partners further afield, they mustn’t then hobble their chances with badly thought-through trade deals.

Read our letter (PDF)

7 Mar

Diet: Scotland pioneers research into effects of meat reduction on people and the planet

In response to calls from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) to “take low-cost, low-regret actions to encourage a 20% shift away from all meat by 2030, rising to 35% by 2050”, The Scottish Government has commissioned research to model the potential impacts, both good and bad.

The findings paint a surprising picture.

Read more

7 Mar

Borders: New EU entry/exit system could disrupt flow of fresh produce to and from UK

Logistics UK has issued warnings about potential traffic delays and disruptions as the new EU entry/exit system (to collect travellers’ biometric data) is implemented in October ’24.

Speaking before the Government’s European scrutiny committee, Nichola Mallon, head of trade and devolved policy at Logistics UK, said these delays could have dire consequences for the shelf life of fresh produce and could lead to a significant reduction in EU imports of perishable products, and jeopardise UK exports.

The implications extend beyond logistical challenges, with concerns raised about the impact on driver recruitment and retention. And it can only make it less attractive for European hauliers to take on deliveries to the UK in the face of such long queues at the border.

27 Feb

Trade: MPs call for vote on joining the CPTPP before a deal is signed

In a new report, MPs on the Business and Trade Committee have called for the Government to allow lawmakers a debate and a vote on joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade bloc.

The Committee says MPs must have their say due to controversial aspects of joining the trade bloc – and the lack of clarity over the benefits of doing so. They say that more scrutiny is needed over imports of controversial agri-food products including beef and pork treated with growth promoters that is currently banned in the UK (although separate trade negotiations with Canada covering just this seem to have broken down, despite the interim agreement to trade on EU terms being due to run out at the end of March).

Even more contentious is the possibility of signing up to CPTPP provisions to allow foreign investors to sue the UK Government over actions and policies that damage their profits. We await a government response.

Read more

26 Feb

Borders: New Defra guidance on common errors using the new BTOM

Since the new Border Target Operation Model was introduced, Defra have been compiling a list of common errors and problems that users of the system have been encountering. These range from import notification errors like an EU address being provided for the operator responsible for a consignment instead of a UK address, to no regionalisation code being provided on an export health certificate.

This list isn’t exhaustive and will no doubt expand over time as operators report problems they’re encountering, but it may include information and links that members find useful.

Read more

26 Feb

Migration: Nick Allen letter to James Cleverly warns of “catastrophic effect” on meat workforce

Nick Allen, Chief Executive of the British Meat Processors Association has written to the Home Secretary James Cleverly to outline the damage to the UK meat and wider food industry that the new one-size-fits-all £38,700 immigration rule will inflict.

Forcing companies to take on overseas butchers at £38,700 represents a 49% increase to current salary levels which sit around £26,200 for a worker in the UK, and would instantly spark a raft of Equal Pay Claims under the Equality Act 2010. Concerns over worker shortages in the food industry have been voiced by numerous players including Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon. Read our latest press release to find out why this is so problematic and the remedy BMPA is suggesting.

Read more

22 Feb

Assurance: Red Tractor to keep calm and carry on

In an interview with Farming Today this week, Red Tractor Chair Christine Tacon responded to the publication of Campbell Tickell’s report into the assurance body’s governance. While the report found that governance was sound, if somewhat complex, it highlighted the need for better communication and engagement with its boards, committees, stakeholders and members. This, Ms Tacon said, is what she will be focusing on while a second review is underway (but which could take up to two years to complete).

That second review will be tackling issues surrounding the ownership structure of Assured Food Standards and how to balance interests represented on the board. The time is certainly right to address these issues and take a fresh look at the structure of assurance and the role it plays in the industry, as Nick Allen recently discussed with The Grocer’s Kevin White for his excellent focus report on Red Tractor.

Listen (from 2:28 minutes)

22 Feb

Trade: Peter Hardwick tells Mariella Frostrup on Times Radio the true cost of post-Brexit red tape

Jack Simpson’s Guardian article this week has been doing the rounds as it exposes the true cost and impact of post-Brexit export requirements for the food industry. New data from the SPS Certification Working Group, of which BMPA is a member, shows a slump in meat exports alone of 17% since 2019 and £170m in added cost for exporters just on certification.

This was quickly picked up by other media outlets and Peter Hardwick was interviewed by Marialla Frostrup on Times Radio to explain the implications for the meat industry and also what it would take to fix it.

Listen to Peter’s interview (from 1:40:21)

22 Feb

Industry: Notes from the recent meeting of reputation of meat group now online

Following the latest Reputation of Meat meeting which took place on 14 February, the full recording and slide deck are now available to view in the Members’ Portal for those not able to attend.

Sarah Miller of QMS gave an update on the outcomes of COP28 followed by AHDB’s environmental update. Presenters also went through the Eco Working Group’s latest policy recommendations to Defra including scope 3 reporting guidance for our sector, the collection and quality of primary and secondary data and how to ensure eco-labels accurately communicate environmental impact and are adaptable as science develops.

The importance of this last point is borne out by what’s just happened in Australia, where Anthony Albanese’s government has changed the Australian Dietary Guidelines to incorporate the impact of certain foods on climate change.

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15 Feb

Exports: AHDB planning a new online knowledge hub for exporters

AHDB are calling for responses to a survey that will inform how they develop and deliver a new knowledge hub for exporters. Depending on your responses it will include the latest on import requirements to ensure continued access to markets, pending changes that will require action by your business, such as: business name change and China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER). It could also offer training tools such as webinars, animations and videos as well as updates and changes to Export Health Certificates, including for newly accessed markets. Survey closes midnight 20 March ’24.

Complete the survey

15 Feb

Training: Small window to have your say on apprenticeship content and assessment

This week the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) opened a nationwide consultation for the revised Level 2 Butcher assessment plan. There’s a short window to complete it by 25 Feb 2024, but it’s a good opportunity for the wider meat industry to have their say on both the content and the trail blazer group’s proposed method of assessments. In particular, we think companies can address changing the written knowledge test to a multiple choice format.

Complete the survey

15 Feb

Labelling: The unintended consequences of Government’s new ‘Not for EU’ labelling

Far from providing clear explanation, the latest information about the new requirement for all retail packed agrifood products to include ‘Not for EU’ on their label from 1 October ’24 has prompted more un-answered questions. There are several parts to the draft regulation (PDF) – including which businesses and products might be exempt – that are still ‘to be confirmed’.

What hasn’t been widely discussed is that, along with all products produced in the UK, retail-packed products imported from our EU and some rest of the world suppliers will also need to bear the ‘Not for EU’ mark. This will mean split production runs and all the expense and loss of flexibility and efficiency that goes with that. At the very least it will add to their costs which will be passed on to the UK consumer. But it might also prove to be a disincentive to supply to the UK for some producers.

For the meat industry there will be less of an impact as the majority of imported meat is processed and packed in the UK. But it may have more of an impact on other parts of the food supply chain that do import retail-packed products, and particularly when the requirement is extended to all food items in July 2025. You can have your say here until 15 March ’24.

15 Feb

Workforce: New migration rule is inflationary and anti-growth

With the new one-size-fits-all £38,700 immigration rule only seven weeks away, there’s growing panic amongst companies across the whole UK economy that it will either strangle growth or stoke inflation.

The issue nobody is talking about is how this might spark a raft of Equal Pay Claims under the Equality Act 2010, as existing British workers have a legal right to demand to be paid an equal salary for the same work as their newly arrived overseas colleagues. And yet Government is ploughing ahead with this seismic policy change without having produced any impact assessment of the damage it could cause.

We’re calling on policy makers to include butchers on the new Immigration Salary List which would reduce the salary floor to £30,960. This is still more than most British butchers are getting paid now, and is over 50% more than the official Government ‘Going Rate’ of £20,400 for a British worker.

Read more

9 Feb

Borders: Dover chiefs threaten Government with legal action over food checks

We’re hearing today that Dover District Council and its Port Health Authority are on the verge of launching a legal challenge to the Government decision to move lorry inspections 22 miles inland to the new Sevington border facility instead of carrying them out at the actual Dover border. They contend that it breaks their legal duties to keep the UK’s food supply safe amid fears the move could increase the risk of diseases.

They’ll ask the High Court to rule whether ministers have broken a series of laws including fully considering the evidence of the risks. The BBC’s Dominic Casciani has the details.

Read more

9 Feb

Labelling: New Government consultation coming on meat labelling

Asked recently about Defra’s plan to increase the information provided on food labelling, Mark Spencer MP said that the Government will be launching a rapid consultation. It will explore options for improving method of production and country-of-origin labelling, how to better highlight imports that do not meet UK welfare standards.

In terms of country-of-origin labelling, it will look at improving how and where origin information is displayed – including for minimally processed meat, such as bacon and ham – and what products should be in scope. He added that the exact details of the consultation will be published in due course. While we await the announcement, Footprint’s Nick Hughes has a handy overview of the confusing plethora of competing food labelling systems and consultations that make up today’s food labelling landscape.

Read more

8 Feb

Sheep: Nan Jones on why we need a different approach to EU trade

In her latest article, BMPA’s Technical Policy Manager, Nan Jones focuses on the UK sheep sector and its reliance on exporting to the EU. She explains that, contrary to what many might think, “some part of every animal which is produced for slaughter in the UK will be exported to the EU. For this to be allowed, every part of the supply chain must comply with EU public and animal health rules, meaning the UK is already aligning with the EU.”

She highlights that this proof of compliance has been gold-plated by UK authorities, with the introduction of a new Veterinary Attestation which goes above and beyond what the EU mandates.

Read more

8 Feb

TODCOF: New border control system not world beating just yet

Barely a week into the new Border Target Operating Model roll-out and it transpires in a new Government contingency planning document that we’re going to need a safety valve in case border control posts are overwhelmed and unable to complete documentary checks after April. This will come in the form of the Todcof or “Timed-out decision contingency feature” which will allow border officials who’ve not had chance to check 24-hour pre-notified documents before a lorry arrives to simply clear it for entry anyway and wave it through.

This neatly illustrates one of the concerns we’ve raised that full border checks originally designed around unaccompanied container shipments are simply not suited to roll-on-roll-off lorry consignments of short shelf-life products like fresh meat.

Read more

8 Feb

Farming: We could learn a thing or two from Canada

Similar to the UK, Canada is experiencing increasing labour shortages in their agri-food industry which is threatening their future food security. But the similarity ends there. The Canadian Government has introduced the Agri-Food Pilot which seeks to attract suitably qualified immigrants to take on or start their own farming operations and work in the wider industry as butchers, meat cutters, food processors and livestock workers.

Unlike the new UK immigration rules being introduced, the Canadian Pilot actively seeks to remove barriers, improve accessibility and encourage applicants to take up these economically critical roles.

The contrast in approach to this existential problem can be seen in AHDB’s latest Agri-Market Outlook 2024. In its introduction, David Eudall highlights “a domestic supply side under risk of erosion from unpredictable climate, higher costs and environmental schemes implemented in isolation from food production”. We’d also add an immigration policy, free trade agreements and export barriers that are strangling the British food industry’s ability to thrive and grow.

Read more

2 Feb

Meat: BMPA member ABP talk to BBC’s Evan Davis about the evolving meat industry

In his latest episode of The Bottom Line, Evan Davis takes a deep dive into the meat industry to shine a light on how the industry works with his three guests, Phil Hambling, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at ABP Food Group, pig farmer Anna Longthorp, and independent butcher Charlotte Mitchell. UK meat consumption is at its lowest since 1974. The panellists discuss why this has come about and explore the challenges and opportunities facing the modern British meat industry.

It’s a fantastic, wide-ranging discussion that dispels a lot of misunderstanding surrounding how meat is produced, standards, environment and how the industry is adapting and changing to meet new challenges.

If you listen to one thing this weekend, make it this.

Listen

1 Feb

Borders: Peter Hardwick interview on the BTOM with Farming Today

Speaking to the BBC’s Farming Today on Thursday morning, Peter Hardwick, BMPA’s Trade Policy Advisor explained the issues surrounding the introduction of new border checks as the new Border Target Operating Model for imports gets underway.

He particularly focused on the implications of imposing a 24 hour pre-notification requirement which is simply not suited to the just-in-time supply chain for short shelf-life meat products. It’s a small, technical detail that most consumers wouldn’t be aware of, but it’s a big deal for the efficiency and cost of UK food supplies. We’re currently lobbying Government to deal with this issue before 30 April so we can avoid disruption to food imports.

Listen

1 Feb

COP28: Full report on the implications of COP28 for food businesses

Following BMPA Sustainability Manager, Lucas Daglish’s attendance at COP28, he has produced a detailed summary of the events he attended with links to webinar footage and other resources. It provides insight into the food related announcements and agreements, and some key takeouts on how COP28 outcomes will impact your food businesses.

Read more

1 Feb

Northern Ireland: Initial reaction to the Command Paper

There’s a lot to digest in the eighty page Government Command Paper outlining their intentions for a revised border operating model for Northern Ireland. We’re still unclear on some of the details and their implications, and are working with officials who are dealing with this to try and clarify what exactly this will mean for the meat industry.

While we don’t want to speculate until we have precise information, BMPA’s Trade Policy Advisor, Peter Hardwick had this to say as an initial reaction to the Command Paper: “From a purely practical perspective, it appears to go further to ease and even get rid of checks on movements into Northern Ireland, so in that respect it is helpful.

“It is not yet clear whether that extends to goods that would have previously gone through the red lane. i.e. goods moving into NI for further processing, effectively removing the need for Export Health Certificates and also allowing Rest of the World goods to be shipped (triangular trade). We are trying to establish that with DEFRA. If it did, on the basis that these goods are also intended for the NI and GB market, it would be even more helpful.

“One thing that is disappointing is that the Command Paper completely omits any reference to the consultation we were told would take place prior to any decision on a roll- out for the ‘not for EU’ labelling requirement.”

We will keep subscribers informed over the coming days as we get more clarification.

1 Feb

Borders: Issues with new import controls still unresolved

Despite the day finally arriving for the introduction of new post-Brexit import controls, things are still unfolding, and much uncertainty remains. We’ve also got the twin issue of how the movement of goods to and from Northern Ireland will work following the publication of the Government Command Paper outlining their intentions for a revised operating model.

BMPA’s Trade Policy expert, Peter Hardwick said: “We do not expect any disruption this week following the 31 Jan deadline simply because Government is treating this as an ‘educational’ period up to 30 April when there will be nothing more than random checks on the online system (IPAFFS). This will be to check the accuracy of entries and Export Health Certificates etc. There will be no stop/go consequences if there are errors or omissions, simply notification to the exporter of the possible consequences if these errors or omissions occurred after 30 April 2024 when systematic checks come in.”

However, there still remain many unresolved issues surrounding the new system which we’ve written about in our latest article.

Read more

19 Jan

Borders: New import controls still need ironing-out before April

The 30 April deadline for the introduction of new red tape and checks on imported meat is fast approaching. While there have been reports in the media recently warning that UK Border Control Posts are not sufficiently prepared, what we’re hearing from our European association counterparts is a little more worrying.

In our latest article, we reveal the issues with the new Border Target Operating Model that our contacts in the EU have been highlighting which, if they remain unresolved, could see UK meat imports unable to leave EU meat plants, let alone get to a UK Border Control Post.

Read more

19 Jan

Feed: New Defra advice on feed storage crucial to farmers and beef exporters

Following a survey in late 2023, Defra have released advice to cattle farmers to help reduce the risks of disease in animal feed storage units.

While BMPA’s members aren’t generally directly involved in this, we would strongly encourage farmers to follow Defra’s advice on maintaining their animal feed storage units. Any breach of the new WOAH requirement for risk assessments of silos could jeopardise the UK’s ‘controlled risk’ status which would seriously impact our ability to export beef.

Read more

19 Jan

Borders: Labour warn of problems if issues with new border controls aren’t fixed

Labour’s Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to Oliver Dowden to warn of the potential consequences if the remaining unresolved issues with the Government’s new Border Target Operating Model are not ironed-out before the new scheme is fully implemented. A key Labour policy to remove such trade barriers is to negotiate a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement with the EU, which is something BMPA has been advocating for strongly since Brexit.

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19 Jan

Bio-Security: Funding cuts at Dover risk UK food safety

Reports of a 70% cut in funding for Dover port inspectors has highlighted a growing problem of illegal meat imports, which have continued to rise as a new black market opens up in the UK due to the cost of living crisis. This is increasing the risk of African Swine Fever breaching our borders.

When new import controls are introduced after 30 April, the ‘border’ will also effectively move to a new facility 22 miles away from Dover at Sevington. Lucy Manzano, head of the Dover Port Health Authority told the Financial Times: “We believe that the proposals to move controls away from [Dover] is in effect opening a new door” adding that “We’re not taking back control of our border, we’re removing the border control.”

Farming Today did an excellent interview this morning with Lucy Manzano and Lizzie Wilson, CEO of the National Pig Association which cuts straight to the issues over bio-security and food safety.

Listen (from 6:54 minutes)


12 Jan

Northern Ireland: Movement of some meat to Northern Ireland about to get more restricted

This Monday 15 January meat companies that have plants in both mainland GB and Northern Ireland, or who sell to customers that carry out further processing, will lose the flexibility to bring material into GB from another country and then forward it on to Northern Ireland, effectively quashing the ability to carry on this kind of ‘triangular trade’, described in APHA’s guidance note (PDF).

To date, and until Monday, due to unilateral easements provided by the UK, this has been possible. However that situation has now run out of road due to the full implementation of EU rules.

Read more

12 Jan

Eco-Labelling: Short window for companies to contribute to consultation

Climate change NGO WRAP this week launched a consultation into proposed changes to existing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Measurement and Reporting Protocols for Food and Drink.

It was WRAP that first provided a consistent methodology to measure and track progress in reducing supply chain emissions, and they have significant influence on Government policy. The recommendations that result from this consultation will underpin future rules on eco-labelling that will affect us all, so it’s important that individual companies as well as the industry as a whole, through BMPA, have their say. Submissions close on 7 February and we’d encourage all members to contribute.

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