Butchery visas needed to avoid pig industry “meltdown”, NPA says

The NPA is calling on the government to extend its offer of short-term visas to butchery workers to help prevent the collapse of the British pig sector.

This follows the government’s recent announcement that 5,500 poultry workers and 5,000 HGV workers will be added to the existing visa scheme until Christmas, to ease supply chain pressures.

But despite repeated requests from processors and the pig industry for short-term visas, similar measures have not yet been announced for the pig sector. NPA warns that a welfare cull on farms is looking increasingly likely due to a chronic shortage of butchers in pork processing plants.

The backlog is now well over 100,000 pigs, with some farmers having already run out of space, and many more either at or close to the limit. While some processors are working with the industry to reduce the backlog, preparations are being made for a welfare cull.

NPA chief executive Zoe Davies said: “We were extremely disappointed that the government has ignored repeated requests for temporary visas for butchers, despite the overwhelming evidence of the impact this is having across the supply chain.

“We desperately need those visas, even for a short period of time to help us get rid of the backlog. This is not just about saving Christmas, which seems to be the government’s sole focus, but about protecting pig welfare and averting an environmental disaster.

“If we don’t get the help we need, it is true that consumers will be denied their Christmas favourites, like pigs in blankets. But we are also facing the long-term decline of British pig production and we need the Government to wake up to this now.”

NPA has warned of a significant contraction of UK pork production and increased reliance on EU imports, as British pig producers face financial crisis due to record production costs. A number of pig farmers have left the industry in recent months, with many more reducing their herd size.

Calls for retailer support

The NPA is asking retailers to help reduce the backlog by prioritising British products over imported.

“There is a lot the retailers can do to help ease the backlog, and we believe that they have a responsibility to do so given their commitments to British pork,” Dr Davies added. “We urge them to prioritise British produce in processing plants rather than relying increasingly on imports, as this will get more pigs moving through the chain. We believe our loyal British customers would be supportive of this.

“In particular, we are concerned that some imports are coming into the UK, being butchered here and taking up valuable labour resource, which is not helping move more of our pigs through the supply chain.

“We welcome efforts being made by some processors to move pigs more quickly – but we would like them to ensure the financial burden is shared equally across the supply chain.”