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Meeting to discuss pig sector
15/05/2008
A meeting bringing the hospitality, retail and wholesale sectors together with Scotland's pig industry for the first time was held yesterday.
It was hosted at the Scottish Parliament by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead following up a commitment to get the food industry and the pig sector around the same table.
Mr Lochhead said:
"This meeting provided a valuable opportunity to bring together the whole supply chain to discuss how we can all work to ensure the future sustainability of the pig sector.
"The pig industry has attached enormous importance to this meeting and I am delighted that we have been able to work with all concerned to make it happen.
"I am very grateful to all those who took the time to come along today, to listen and to discuss how the situation may be improved. There was a full and frank exchange of views and a clear willingness on all sides to engage in this important issue.
"I am acutely aware of the difficult situation the pig industry faces and I am committed to doing all we can to support this vital sector. We have agreed several action points to take forward in the near future. It is crucial we engage the whole food chain in finding solutions. We want to promote mutual understanding of the problems facing different parts of the supply chain.
"I am confident that the food industry will continue to show appreciation for the quality of Scottish pork and the high standards of welfare and animal husbandry that are required and so ably demonstrated by the Scottish pig sector."
Action points agreed:
- British Hospitality Association to feedback issues discussed to its members and report back to Scottish Government
- Scottish Retail Consortium to have further discussions with NFU Scotland facilitated by the Scottish Government and to contribute to the Pig Industry Task Force
- Scottish Federation of Meat Traders to report on issues of abattoir availability in Scotland for pigs
Other measures already underway include:
- A £30,000 strategic review into the pig sector to help develop market resilience
- A £300,000 project to look at adding value to the fifth quarter in the red meat sector
- Setting up a Task Force to examine the feasibility of proposals to alleviate pressure on the pig sector
- Highlighting the difficulties facing the pig sector at the highest levels in the European Commission
Today's meeting was attended by representatives from the British Hospitality Association, Scottish Retail Consortium, major supermarkets, Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, Scottish Federation of Meat Traders, Scottish Pig Producers, NFU Scotland, Quality Meat Scotland, Office of Fair Trading and Campbell's Prime Meats.