March 23, 2009

UK's pig farmers, meat processors, retailers, and the government have agreed to work on areas of common concern for the benefit of consumers and the industry itself.

The seventeen members of the new Pig Meat Supply Chain Task Force, set up to identify the biggest challenges faced by the industry and suggest solutions, met for the first time this week.

The group is working to improve the resilience of the supply chain through:                                   

• Investigating how a standardised code of practice for clearer labelling could be introduced;      
                                    
• Improving pig herd health;      
                                      
• Examining how to increase the amount of produce reared to higher British welfare standards bought through Public Sector procurement;      
                                            
• Addressing the regulatory burden on the supply chain.                                                               

UK's Farming Minister Jane Kennedy said that he wants the group to improve things for consumers and the supply chain by delivering on issues like clearer labelling, better pig health, and greater public sector procurement of higher welfare products.

The Task Force will carry out its work over the next 12 months and there will then be a review to determine whether it should continue.