The majority of small and medium-sized slaughterhouses in Wales could close if their operators are forced to pay for bureaucratic and costly meat hygiene inspections, the Farmers' Union of Wales fears.
The union has consulted its 12 county branches on the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) move towards the full cost recovery of meat hygiene controls at slaughterhouses and found members unanimously objected to the proposals.
"There seems little doubt that the proposals will make a significant number of small and medium-sized slaughterhouses uneconomical to run as many premises estimate large increases in inspection costs," said FUW president Gareth Vaughan.
"This would result in the closure of a significant number - possibly the majority - of Welsh premises."
FUW staff have also approached slaughterhouse owners within their regions and the majority stated that if the new charging regime is introduced their businesses would be seriously threatened.
"The union has also contacted a number of slaughter industry representatives and the majority believe the proposals, if adopted, could lead to most Welsh slaughterhouses becoming uneconomical," Mr Vaughan said.
The union stressed - in its response to the FSA's consultation on the proposals - that the slaughterhouses most threatened by the proposals are those which supply independent meat outlets, such as butchers, and their closure will therefore severely undermine those outlets.
"It is estimated over 50% of cattle, 70% of sheep, 25% of pigs and 40% of poultry are slaughtered in independent, small and medium sized plants,” said Mr Vaughan.
"The proposals will undermine independent businesses and play straight into the hands of the major supermarkets, which are already too dominant over the supply chain.”
He added that farmers throughout Wales had been encouraged by Government to diversify into supplying niche and organic markets that rely on the local slaughtering of animals.
"Many of those who buy from local butchers do so because the meat they are buying is locally produced and slaughtered, and has travelled minimum distances,” said Mr Vaughan. “The closure of small and medium sized plants will therefore severely undermine these markets.
"The closure of slaughterhouses will increase the carbon footprint of meat produced and marketed in Wales, which is in direct contradiction to Government policies.
"The proposals represent a significant threat to rural employment, both in terms of those employed in slaughterhouses, and those who work in related premises such as butcher’s shops."
The union's response added that during the 2001 Foot and Mouth disease outbreak, local slaughterhouses played a crucial role in reducing the risk of the disease spreading by ensuring animals didn't have to travel significant distances to slaughter.
"They also played an important role in providing premises where animals could be locally slaughtered," the submission stressed.
“The closure of such premises would undermine the future contribution of the slaughter industry to disease control and animal welfare.”
In conclusion, the union’s response advocated a reduction in the regulatory requirements leading to proportionate inspections, coupled with an efficient regime, the recognition that it is inequitable to ask the industry to pay for unreasonable overheads, and a return to headage charges as a means by which to “significantly mitigate the catastrophic consequences of what is proposed”.