October 25, 2021

UK announces measures to support pig industry

The United Kingdom has announced a package of measures to support the pig industry.

These measures will include working with the industry to introduce the processing of animals on Saturdays and longer working days where possible.

The government will also fund a private storage aid scheme in England which will enable meat processors to store slaughtered pigs for three to six months so that they can be preserved safely and processed at a later date.

Until December 31, up to 800 pork butchers will be eligible to apply for visas from the existing allocation in the UK’s Seasonal Workers Pilot Scheme, allowing them to travel and work in the country for a period of six months. This temporary adjustment is in addition to foreign butchers already being eligible since December 2020 to apply to come to the UK through the Skilled Worker Route as part of the point-based immigration system.

In support of pig producers in England and Scotland, two meat levy bodies have also announced a pork levy holiday – suspending payments of the levy pig farmers and producers are required to pay for November 2021. This will amount to savings for the sector of just under £1 million (US$1.4 million). The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) took the decision in response to the continued build-up of pigs on farm, falling prices and high production costs.

The UK government will work with the AHDB to support the establishments that have been delisted by China and to identify other export markets for pork.

Additionally, Defra will engage with retailers and food service sectors to support processors and the consumption of a variety of cuts of domestically produced pork.

- UK Government