British Meat Processors Association
Latest updates on the current Blue Tongue outbreak
BMPA updates, as they happen, on developing issues in the meat industry.
Contains links to member only content.
18 Oct
The fourth annual meeting of the Trade Specialised Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) is to be held on 21 October. The Committee monitors the implementation and functioning of the SPS measures chapter of the TCA.
On the agenda this year are issues including the BTOM, UK measures on the import of porcine meat products, SPS e-certification and GB import certification requirements and cooperation on animal welfare. You can read the minutes from last year’s meeting and view the agenda for next week at the link below.
18 Oct
Britain’s beef herd has reduced in size by 5% in the last year and 13% in the ten years before that. Our recent Meat Industry Manifesto details what that might mean for British food security going forward.
To stem that declining trend, the CEO of the National Beef Association, Neil Shand has proposed, in a Farming Today interview, that England introduces a similar system to that in Scotland (and Wales, Northern Ireland and the EU) where each beef calf would attract a £100 ‘headage’ payment. This, he explains, would not be additional funding, which is in short supply at the moment, but would come from money that’s already been committed to agricultural support but not yet been spent.
Mr Shand warns of dropping to a point where “critical mass starts being a production challenge for processors and retailers” saying that “we don’t want them to start going looking elsewhere overseas.”
This erosion of our domestic food security and increased reliance on vulnerable international supply chains is something we have warned about in our Manifesto. We also explain what could happen if we reach that tipping point that Mr Shand references. You can listen to the whole interview via the link below. Also, keep listening to the segment after, which discusses reactions to the announcement of a review into Defra’s regulations and regulators.
Listen from 4:53 minutes
18 Oct
The BMPA was delighted to welcome Defra Minister Daniel Zeichner MP to their AGM on Tuesday 8th October. The Minister addressed the audience on a wide range of issues relating to the red meat supply chain.
He talked about the government’s concerns and commitments on food security, the trading relationship with the EU, future planned trade deal negotiations, the challenges on labour issues for the industry, the apprenticeship scheme, border controls and the importance of maintaining bio security on animal diseases. Most importantly his message to the membership was that government’s desire is to work closely with industry to find solutions to the many challenges ahead.
Tom Kirwan the President of the BMPA welcomed the Minister and highlighted the role that member companies play in both keeping the home market supplied with British meat and the contribution the sector makes to the economy through its exporting activities. The President expressed members’ concerns about the declining supply of British Livestock and spoke about the need for everyone to work together to reverse current trends in livestock numbers to maintain Britain’s food security.
16 Oct
It’s been announced this week that ex head of the No.10 Policy Unit and senior economic advisor to Gordon Brown, Dan Corry will be conducting a review into Defra’s internal regulatory landscape. The review will explore whether Defra regulators are equipped to drive economic growth, secure private sector investment and protect the environment
Interestingly for our sector, it will also look at the “customer and stakeholder experience of regulation, including the impact on those who are regulated” plus “the efficiency of regulation, in particular whether the current regulatory landscape involves any duplication and/or contradiction, and whether there are opportunities to make improvements.”
You can read more about the review which is part of a wider aim to position Defra as a key economic growth department in their press release.
10 Oct
The meat industry has often struggled to recruit workers despite offering attractive packages which include advantages like flexible working, help with transport and a progressive career path. With such a large number of working-age people in the UK who are currently economically inactive, and therefore not available to employers, the new Employment Rights Bill will hopefully pave the way for some to re-enter the workforce.
BMPA’s Technical Policy Manager said: “We think it’s important that any new provisions are applied equally across the board to create a level playing field and equal competition amongst companies and across industries. Anything that is unevenly applied risks distorting the employment landscape and creating worker shortages for some companies and an oversupply for others.
“While it’s difficult at this stage to predict the cost implications of the new Bill, we’d also like government to have one eye on how the new legislation will impact costs and therefore the competitiveness of British companies. Because we are not self-sufficient, the UK meat sector relies heavily on both imports and exports to maintain a level of food security for the domestic market. Anything that throws this out of balance risks eroding that food security and could impact consumer prices.”
Farming Today had an interesting discussion on the potential benefits and impacts of the new bill on the food and farming industry.
8 Oct
The Food Standards Agency has been awarded £1.6m to develop a framework to assess the safety of new cell-cultivated products.
Reflecting on the news, BMPA’s CEO, Nick Allen said: “The meat industry is taking a keen interest in the new technology and innovation going into novel cell-cultivated products. With a growing global population, we can see that cell-cultivated meat could provide a valuable source of protein for people in countries where the climate or conditions aren’t suited to rearing animals and can’t provide sufficient protein for the population.
“It’s reassuring to know that FSA has been given the funding it needs for this new sandbox programme. It will enable the regulator to rigorously research and test the safety of these novel food products and the manufacturing processes used, so consumers can make informed choices about the food they buy.”
The Daily Express’ Health Editor, Hanna Geissler has write-up.
8 Oct
Since the end of the transition period a series of staged border controls on exports and imports has been imposed, the last of which is the pre-arrival and pre-departure Safety and Security declarations for all consignments. This was supposed to come in on 31 October but has just been delayed until 31 January.
BMPA’s Technical Policy Manager, Nan Jones explains: “While the meat industry is as prepared as it can be with the information that will be required, we’re still lacking clear guidance from government on how to present it to comply with the new Safety and Security declaration requirement.”
This delay represents an acknowledgement from government that such information has not been made available so far. But, as Ms Jones points out: “it also presents an opportunity for the Government to issue comprehensive guidance to companies and to put in place the necessary support ahead of the delayed implementation on 31 January next year.”
Of course, as we’ve said many times before, all of this extra bureaucracy, extra cost and delays at the border would be completely unnecessary if we formally aligned with the EU, something we’re already doing in order to trade with it, but must prove via a mountain of red tape. The FT’s Peter Foster and Madeleine Speed have some thoughts on this.
4 Oct
After a long hiatus due to the pandemic, UK Sausage Week is back with a banger. The 2024 event will kick-off with a celebration lunch in London on 28 October when the winners will be announced, and following which they can look forward to a good boost to autumn sales on the back of their win.
4 Oct
This week’s announcement that the European Commission is to delay the implementation of the new EU deforestation regulation has been met with considerable relief in the UK beef sector. As we’ve spelled out previously, this could have been disastrous had it gone ahead on 30 December this year.
But it is only a delay. This new reporting requirement WILL happen and the UK government has been gifted a window of opportunity to properly prepare; something they have failed to do up to now.
BMPA together with the NFU and AHDB have already developed a practical, ready-made solution for demonstrating compliance that utilises existing traceability systems. Nick Allen explains that BMPA “stands ready to work collaboratively with government to ensure it works for both British companies and the European Commission.
“What we need from government is an acknowledgement that it is they, and they alone that can nominate a responsible government department and adopt a system for complying with the EUDR requirements.”
4 Oct
In his latest article, BMPA’s Sustainability Manager Lucas Daglish considers the relative biodiversity impacts of arable versus ruminant livestock farming in the UK.
Contrary to what some commentators would like to claim, it’s not a simple case of ‘black and white’. There are multiple factors that contribute to biodiversity loss including the intensity of the farming system employed, monoculture and pesticide use.
Lucas explains: “While ruminant livestock farming contributes to biodiversity loss, especially through overgrazing and nutrient runoff, traditional and low-intensity ruminant livestock systems can be less harmful than arable systems and can even support greater biodiversity.’
27 Sep
Technological advancements aimed at improving efficiency, safety, and sustainability are driving significant transformation in our industry. Automation and robotics are addressing labor shortages and improving precision through AI-powered robotic butchering systems that reduce waste and meet quality standards.
Automated packaging systems are also becoming essential, streamlining processes like portioning and sealing while maintaining hygiene. These innovations are not merely trends but necessary responses to industry challenges, as highlighted in a recent survey (PDF 1.4mb) by the US-based Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.
The PMMI report also shows that data-driven technologies are playing a critical role in food safety. Real-time monitoring through Internet of Things devices and data analytics helps detect and prevent potential hazards, while blockchain enhances traceability throughout the supply chain, building consumer trust.
Add AI and machine learning into the mix and optimising operations takes on a whole new angle from predictive equipment maintenance systems through to supply chain management. Together, these technological advancements are shaping a more efficient, safe, and sustainable future for the meat processing industry.
27 Sep
Defra has announced that as of today (27 September) personal imports of pork products from the EU are to be banned unless they’re produced to EU commercial standards and weigh less than 2kg.
This new rule still allows 2kg of pork to be brought into the country by individuals but adds the requirement that it must be packed and labelled to show it meets EU standards. Previously that wasn’t required.
While this is a step forward, a total ban on any personal pork imports would be far better and easier to implement. Nor does it tackle the much bigger biosecurity problem of illegally imported pork by organised criminals, which is exacerbated by the slashing of Dover Port Health Authority’s budget for border inspections. The National Pig Association have written about this in their latest article.
20 Sep
As part of a ten-year partnership, Lloyds Banking Group has supported Soil Association Exchange in developing and deploying a standardised methodology for collecting and reporting holistic environmental baseline data from farms in the UK.
The aim is to provide farmers with guidance around changes that can improve soil health, reduce carbon emissions, lower inputs and improve biodiversity, while retaining a focus on profitable food production and capitalising on income opportunities.
It’s heartening to see this kind of collaboration from the finance industry, particularly when we see pressure groups elsewhere lobbying banks to stop funding the meat industry. Lloyds and the Soil Association have taken a rigorous evidence-based approach to tackling the climate change challenge, working with the farming industry.
20 Sep
With the 30 December deadline fast approaching and still no sign of the promised guidance from the European Commission, the implementation of the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has become more uncertain. Joining a chorus of calls for it to be postponed, two leading centre-right MEPs have described the legislation as a ‘bureaucratic monster’ which could seriously disrupt EU trade.
Meanwhile, a Socialist and Democrat group are urging the EC to expedite the guidance (promised for October) and not delay implementation. They claim that progress is ‘well advanced’. On balance the anecdotal message seems to be that not enough countries are sufficiently prepared for the December deadline, including the UK. BMPA, through its European counterparts, continues to push for clarification on whether the new regulation will go ahead on time and we’ll keep you updated on any developments.
20 Sep
While we haven’t yet seen an official communiqué from the Government, it seems very likely that the Starmer government will scrap plans to introduce ‘Not for EU’ labelling for meat and dairy products.
The Guardian is reporting that the plans have been indefinitely postponed, although the only quote from a government spokes person to date says that “Ministers are carefully considering the evidence provided in the recent ‘not for EU’ labelling consultation.” We’ll keep you posted as soon as we hear anything through the official channels. In the mean time, the Guardian’s Jack Simpson has the latest.
12 Sep
In his latest article, Nick Allen draws a salient comparison between Ofsted’s now-abandoned one word inspection grades and overly simplistic food labelling for meat. Given the complexities surrounding different production systems, animal welfare, nutrition, and sustainability, he argues that simplistic food labelling cannot possibly convey enough information to allow properly informed choices.
In his article, Nick remarks: “The key is to provide information without turning it into a one-word verdict, or worse trying to reduce it down to a ‘red’, ‘amber’ or ‘green’ categorisation using the simplistic ‘traffic light’ system. This would likely consign healthy, nutritious fresh meat permanently to the red zone and do shoppers a big disservice as they try to construct a balanced diet using flawed labelling.”
12 Sep
We’re delighted to announce that Peter Hardwick, BMPA’s Trade Policy Advisor, has been awarded the prestigious Royal Smithfield Bicentenary Trophy in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the British Meat and Livestock Industry.
Speaking after the presentation, Nick Allen said: “Peter’s knowledge of the industry is encyclopaedic and has been enormously valuable to me personally, having worked closely with him now for over 20 years. There are many more in the sector that have benefited from his knowledge, advice and sheer enthusiasm for the meat industry.”
Well done, Peter! We’re glad to have you as part of the BMPA team.
12 Sep
Government inaction on impending European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is threatening to halt lucrative beef exports to the EU and create an open goal for competitor countries like New Zealand, Argentina and the US to step in and take our export market.
With a looming deadline of 1 January 2025 firmly in their sights, the UK government have done nothing to prepare for the new export requirements. In fact, anecdotal evidence suggests they are actively washing their hands of responsibility, suggesting instead that it’s up to the industry to deal with it.
6 Sep
New research by Logistics UK suggests that delays caused by the new European Entry System (EES) could seriously impact trade passing through Dover. With 3.35 million HGVs passing through the Short Straits in 2023, even using a conservative estimate, Logistics UK calculates the cost to the economy would be £400 million per annum.
Beyond the extra cost, which the thin margins of hauliers can ill afford to absorb, they also warn of a growing reluctance amongst EU hauliers to deliver to the UK, especially when the added friction of our new BTOM and Safety and Security checks are added to the mix. Logistics UK are working with businesses and Government to find solutions to mitigate or at least minimise disruption to the supply chain but time is running out, with the EES implementation due to start on 10 November 2024.
4 Sep
Several months after the implementation of new import controls on high risk goods coming into the UK from the EU, work has finally started on new port facilities at Holyhead which will eventually be used to check meat and other products coming in from the Republic of Ireland.
Since we left the EU in 2021 such physical checks (and the additional costs associated with them) have been waived. But the new facilities aren’t expected to be operational until some time in 2025, at which point a large proportion of Britain’s meat imports will start to be subject to expensive import checks and charges. We’ll monitor progress and report back.
4 Sep
The British Meat Processors Association is launching its first Meat Industry Manifesto. The document focuses on a worrying long-term trend of falling livestock numbers which has resulted in a sharp reduction in the number of abattoirs. Left un-checked, this trend will accelerate and jeopardise Britain’s food security.
A variety of government policies across the supply chain are contributing to this issue, and we need the new government to play its part to stem the decline and restore growth. Our Manifesto describes what a smoothly functioning, resilient meat supply chain should look like, and explains what needs to happen to achieve it.
We invite you to review the document and contact us to discuss the issues and solutions we’ve presented.
30 Aug
Peru’s ratification of the UK’s accession to the Trans-Pacific trade partnership is the final piece to fall into place and clear the way for the UK to join the CPTPP on 15 December 2024. This gives us tariff-free access for most goods into the 11-member trade group.
For the meat industry, it certainly opens up some new opportunities, although we already have free trade agreements with many of the countries involved. But the main export focus will stay firmly on our nearest, biggest and most high-value market in Europe, where we can sell offal (a key component of meat exports and carcase balance) at near double the price of other markets in CPTPP countries.
Perhaps the longer term opportunity lies in countries that are not yet part of the trading block but may be admitted in the future. Of course, the ability to trade tariff free is a two way street, so one of the risks will be product coming the other way into the UK. We’ll be monitoring how these markets open up in the coming months and years. In the mean time, AHDB have a useful collection of articles and studies on the potential impact of joining the CPTPP.
30 Aug
The Government has awarded nearly £700,000 for equipment that will measure all emissions from beef cattle. The UltraGreenCow project will aim to build on Scotland’s Rural College’s GreenCow research programme to understand and eventually reduce emissions from ruminants including methane, ammonia, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide).
30 Aug
BMPA CEO Nick Allen sat down with the BBC Farming Today team to discuss falling cattle production in the UK. He explained that rising input costs caused by the war in Ukraine and other inflationary pressures had dampened beef production and seen more farmers look to take up alternative activities via the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
However recent caps imposed on the take-up of these schemes indicates that the Government can see a damaging impact on food production.
Asked about the future of beef production in the UK, Nick said that a combination of falling supply, higher farm gate prices and continued strong demand means that farmers are now seeing longer term price stability and a more attractive incentive to boost production.
Listen from 4:49 minutes
23 Aug
By now most will have seen several alarmist headlines claiming that eating just two slices of ham a day could raise your risk of developing diabetes. Even the serious papers are splashing it.
However, it’s instructive to compare the caveats contained in the Cambridge study published in the Lancet, with the confidently reported health scare claims in the media. The two paint different pictures, which only serves to confuse consumers and make healthy choices more difficult.
The Cambridge study, by its own admission, says that “the underlying mechanisms that link meat intake with the development of type 2 diabetes are not fully established”, and goes on to say that: “Notably, the trials were only able to assess short-term effects of meat consumption on glycaemic traits rather than long-term effects on disease risk”. It concludes that from the results of such randomised controlled trials that seek to link meat consumption with risk markers for type 2 diabetes “no definitive effects have been reported.”
Since the study was published, several diet experts have questioned the claims including dietitian Carrie Ruxton. You can read her assessment (and some interesting additional comments) here.
23 Aug
Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, and with it the collapse of the Russian pork industry, Russian production has been on a rocky road to recovery, and continues to grow. A recent Reuters article looks back at the developments that have happened over the last thirty years that have seen production rise from a post Soviet low of 1.5 million metric tonnes to a predicted 5.2 million in 2024, making it the fourth largest producer behind China, the EU and the US.
It’s an interesting view of the international pork market and how Russian producers are capitalising on changing geopolitical tensions.
23 Aug
Following our press release on the new and (for some importers) unexpectedly large port charges, BMPA’s Trade Policy Advisor was interviewed by BBC Farming Today. It’s a good interview that highlights an expensive barrier to trade that doesn’t need to exist. He explained why some importers, particularly smaller companies bringing in multiple products in multiple consignments, are bearing the brunt of the Common User Charge (to pay for new border infrastructure) and Port Health Charges (to pay for largely automated document checks).
A common argument for the new Border Target Operating Model is to safeguard Britain’s biosecurity by checking goods coming in from Europe. Peter questions whether the 2% target for random checks would enough to achieve this anyway. He points out that, prior to Brexit, goods flowed to and from the EU freely with no checks, because we all followed the same rules. Even now we’re outside the EU, we still follow those rules so we can trade with the bloc.
One last thought not yet discussed. If the BTOM continues to roll out as planned, all eyes will soon turn to what this will mean for meat imports from the Republic of Ireland. Currently such port charges and checks are not being implemented. Irish exporters must still complete Export Health Certificates and pre-notification but the ‘full fat’ border system it is thought won’t start until Spring next year, although it hasn’t been made clear exactly when.
Listen from 8:52 minutes
16 Aug
The first invoices for the new Common User Charge for importing meat and plant products through Dover have started to land.
While most businesses should be aware of how much they’ll be charged, some will be in for a shock because the previous government mislead them about what the charges could amount to. BMPA’s Trade Policy Advisor explains the costly charges (particularly for smaller companies who bring in large numbers of small consignments) and how we ended up with such an expensive border system.
16 Aug
We’re hearing reports that the end of October deadline for companies to include ‘Not for EU’ on all labels on product destined for the GB market could be postponed pending an exploration of alternatives which achieve the same policy intent of maintaining the flow of goods to Northern Ireland.
We are awaiting official confirmation with the details but as we understand, GB-wide labelling will remain a potential option should workable alternative solutions not be successfully identified, and if it’s found that the supply of goods to NI is being negatively affected.
While we wait for formal confirmation BMPA would advise any meat businesses that haven’t already implemented the new labelling to hold-off making any changes or investment until we know more detail. We’ll keep you posted.
9 Aug
We always enjoy Sam Lowe’s weekly Most Favoured Nation blog. He’s a self-confessed trade nerd and has a pithy knack of illuminating even the most convoluted and niche trade issues.
His latest offering tackles the much-discussed prospect of a veterinary agreement to reduce trade friction for our fast-moving imports and exports of animal and plant products with the EU. As usual he tells it how it is, and includes a bonus diagram of beef exporting to the EU.
9 Aug
This week saw two developments in the ongoing implementation of the new BTOM. From 10pm on 5 August invoices for the Common User Charge (CUC) started to be issued to businesses that imported SPS goods from 30 April ’24, which were eligible for checks at Sevington Border Control Post.
These charges are unique to Sevington and go towards paying for the new border facilities that were built. Other BCPs currently don’t levy the CUC if no physical check is carried out, whereas the CUC applies to all checks, both physical and automated electronic checks on documentation, for consignments going through Sevington. Defra has a note on it here.
The other development was that the Transitional Staging Period, which was introduced as part of a phased implementation of the BTOM and eases the requirements for certain official controls on some plant and animal products, has been extended again. Instead of ending on 31 January 2025, it will now end 1 July 2025 to prevent the remaining controls from taking effect by default. You can read more in the Members’ Portal.
9 Aug
The Food and Drink Sector Council’s Workforce Subcommittee is launching a campaign to highlight why the food industry is a great place to work. The public-facing elements of the campaign will begin towards the end of August, continuing through September to coincide with the back-to-school period and peak recruitment season.
The Mmmake Your Mark campaign is designed to complement existing company recruitment and promotional activities, providing a unified platform for the whole industry to get behind. We’ve added links to the campaign toolkit and notes which guide you through how to get involved and personalise the branded assets with your own calls to action. There’s also a drop-in session on 13 August which you can sign up for via email in the portal.
1 Aug
Brussels has issued a warning to the UK in a paper this week, stipulating that it must fully implement existing Brexit agreements concerning Northern Ireland and the rights of EU citizens if it wishes to reboot relations with the bloc. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government aims to repair ties through a new security pact and better trading terms. However, the European Commission has presented eight demands that the UK must fulfill to show its commitment to the Brexit divorce deal. These include resolving issues related to animal and plant product certifications.
Negotiations between the UK and the EU have hit a stumbling block over a veterinary agreement. The European Commission has criticised the UK for not properly certifying these products and calls for non-compliant consignments to be rejected at the border, exacerbating trade friction. These issues underscore the broader challenge of aligning UK standards with EU requirements, complicating efforts to foster improved relations and reduce trade barriers.
The UK’s Cabinet Office has responded by emphasising its commitment to the withdrawal agreement and the Windsor framework.
1 Aug
Following a downbeat Farming Opinion Tracker survey which indicates that 25% of farmers plan to reduce their operation and 14% plan to leave farming entirely in the next 3-5 years, new Defra Minister Steve Reed has pledged a ‘new deal’ for farmers to boost Britain’s food security and drive rural economic growth.
In a speech at this week’s Summer Stakeholder Reception, Mr Reed said: “We will support farmers to strengthen Britain’s food security and boost rural growth with a new deal for farmers, cutting energy bills, ending trade deals that undermine environmental and welfare standards, and buying more British produce with the public purse.”
1 Aug
New post-Brexit border controls are putting Britain’s food security at risk, with retailers and food suppliers expressing deep concern over potential delays and spoilage. In a letter to Environment Secretary Steve Reed, the SPS Certification Working Group highlighted issues stemming from the April implementation of new checks for EU goods. There are still reports of perishable foods being delayed up to 24 hours, leading to significant waste and financial loss. More worryingly, the inconsistency in charges and extended hold-ups at the border are causing importers to reconsider their shipping routes, threatening the just-in-time supply chain critical for fresh produce.
The letter also criticises the decision to locate the border control post 22 miles from the entry point, which, without robust measures like GPS tracking and stringent inspections, could lead to illegal food being offloaded en route. The Dover Port Health Authority, vital in preventing the import of diseases, has also faced funding cuts up to 70%, raising additional safety concerns. The full implications of these border control issues could have serious economic, trade, and reputational repercussions for the UK. The Telegraph’s Hannah Boland has a write up.
