UK pig farmer wants compensation for export stop

According to slaughter companies, this means that £15 in value is lost per carcass. Furthermore, pig farmers find it difficult to sell the ready-to-slaughter supply to the slaughter companies. In addition to the export stop, this creates a second cost item. Animals are delivered too heavy and pig farmers are faced with discounts on the pigs delivered.

Damage to export stop
The export restrictions mainly cause problems for two large slaughterhouses. These process 2 pigs every week. This is approximately 40.000% of national production. The damage to the sector amounts to £20 every week. Slaughterhouses emphasize that the value that exports to China add to the carcass cannot be realized in another export destination, and that this situation has persisted for some time now. The pig union in the United Kingdom (NPA) has therefore submitted a request for support to the ministry.

Request for compensation for damage
The NPA is asking the ministry for a support package of £3,2 million. According to the NPA, the ministry is closely monitoring the situation in the sector and the application has already been seriously considered. The NPA adds that a support package is reasonable because other sectors, including dairy farming, have also been able to benefit from a corona support package. In addition, Northern Ireland and Scotland have already responded to farmers affected by export restrictions.

In Northern Ireland, £2,2 million was set aside for pig farms in March. This was intended for pig farmers affected by an 8-week export restriction imposed by a slaughterhouse in August last year. Similar support was provided to Scottish pig farmers who were hit by export restrictions at a Scottish abattoir in February and March this year.

United Kingdom imposes sanctions on China
The NPA believes that re-obtaining the export license is a top priority at this time. Yet there doesn't seem to be much progress in the matter. The NPA is concerned that recent political tensions between China and the United Kingdom are playing a role. In recent weeks, sanctions have been imposed by the United Kingdom on China because of criticism of the way in which China treats Muslim minorities.

Political game?
The NPA wonders why re-obtaining licenses in other countries was successful. Last year, British companies were also re-licensed after they were temporarily excluded from exports due to corona infections among slaughterhouse staff. Because things now seem to be taking longer, the pig union fears that pig farmers will become the victims of an international political game. The hope for compensation for the costs now rests on the government.