Chairman’s Update – December 2024

As we reach the end of 2024, and also the end of my two years as FABRA Chairman, it is time to review progress made and important areas for the coming year.

It has been an interesting year with a General Election interrupting progress in the summer. However, this gave us opportunity to share our industry concerns with new Ministers and the Select Committees that oversee their work. Work on the planned amendments to the Animal By Products Regulations to allow for non-ruminant (pork and poultry) PAP to be reintroduced into certain animal feeds has been re-started by DEFRA. A public consultation has been released in Scotland, with a similar one to follow for England and Wales. FABRA have been working with our European counterparts at EFPRA on publicity for this, with position statements and background information to inform Stakeholders.

The review of UK Best Available Techniques (BAT) for preventing and minimising the environmental emissions and impacts from our industry is well underway now, with a good attendance at the first Technical Working Group by FABRA Members. This important process will define mandatory standards for the sector over the coming years. FABRA continues to play a lead role with the other meat industry associations in our industry sub group as we all prepare for the next steps. Evidence and data collection for defining Key Environmental Issues and setting emission and consumption benchmarks is next.

The landscape for energy legislation is looking slightly different under the new Government with a much faster route to Net Zero as a priority for the Energy Secretary. We have held meaningful discussions with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) in recent months and are working towards minimising the carbon tax impact on the sector, while highlighting the contribution our industry makes towards sustainable recycling and the circular economy. 2025 will be a busy time as we provide evidence on energy efficiency improvements and consumption rates to DESNZ to inform their setting of Targets for our members under the new the Climate Change Agreement Scheme.

Another important area for future consultation is the review of the veterinary agreement for trade with the EU. The new Government is committed to reviewing SPS arrangements and there will be opportunity to lobby for improvements and a ‘levelling up’ of import and export requirements. Later in 2025 we expect to have a decision from the World Organisation for Animal Health on the UK’s application for negligible BSE risk status. If approved, this will be the first step in a lengthy process for re-opening some of our product markets that were closed when we left the EU, as well as markets in other 3rd countries that are limited by our BSE risk status. An interesting period ahead.

Jane Brindle
Chairman
FABRA UK

List of Acronyms
ABP – Animal By Products
BSE –  Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
DEFRA – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
EFPRA – European Fats and Proteins Rendering Association
PAP – Processed Animal Protein
SPS – Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary