BPEX has welcomed the government’s decision to undertake an investigation into the state of the English pig industry.
“We have had a number of meetings with the government in the widest sense and so far as we are concerned for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee to spontaneously say it is holding an inquiry into the pig industry is fantastic news, “ said Chris Lamb at BPEX.
DEFRA has developed four simple questions as part of its consultation that ends on 11 September. Lamb said BPEX would be responding to it, as would the National Pig Association and large number of pig farmers and those in allied industries.
The questions posed by DEFRA are: What is wrong with the pig industry in England? Are domestic pig welfare standards a principal reason that English producers have problems competing with those outside the UK? What could supermarkets and the hospitality industry do to alleviate the pressure on the domestic pig industry? Can the Government do more to support the industry either directly or through its public procurement policies?
The formal report should be published towards the end of this year or the beginning of next year.