News

The coronavirus outbreak is having an unsettling impact on the market for slaughter pigs across Europe due to the closure of borders and falling food service demand.

The Government has announced a series of financial measures that will provide some support to the pig sector through the Coronavirus crisis.

Farming Minister Victoria Prentis has highlighted the extent to which the Government’s attitude towards farrowing crates is shifting towards the NPA’s position.

The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has said plants will do all they can to keep open as the impact of coronavirus in the UK grows.

The latest SPP has moved up a shade and is now quoted at 163.05p but the German price has already taken a tumble.

A debate on ending ‘the cage age’, which was postponed in the autumn, is now due to take place in the House of Commons on March 16.

The NPA has stressed the importance of maintaining current EU tariffs on non-EU pork imports after the current Brexit transition period ends.

Coronavirus is currently on everybody’s mind and it is important that members familiarise themselves with the current advice from Government.

NPA members are urged to back an NFU petition urging the Government to commit in law to protecting UK food standards in future trade deals.  

Defra has appointed Nicholas Saphir, who has played a major role in building the organic dairy co-operative OMSCo, as the new chair of AHDB.