The Scottish Government is to investigate the feasibility of using mobile abattoirs in Scotland. Answering a question in Holyrood on the subject from SNP MSP Gail Ross, Environment Secretary Fergus Ewing said: "The Scottish Government recognises the importance local slaughter provisions can play in the red meat sector. As such, on the 16 January we invited applications through our Contract Research Fund Project to bid for a research project that will look to assess the viability and sustainability options of mobile abattoirs in Scotland. The closing date for tenders is noon on 12 February 2019.
"We envisage that the project will start in March and complete in the autumn, and will look to provide detailed analysis of all aspects that would be required to operate mobile abattoirs in Scotland. This will include reviewing business models in other countries, costs involved and the regulatory environment, and will be used to determine their potential use in Scotland."
Welcoming the move, Andrew McCornick, NFU Scotland President said: "With the steady and worrying loss of small abattoirs across Scotland over the last few years, businesses in more remote areas have been screaming out for a solution with the current costs of slaughter unmanageable for many.
"It is encouraging to see that Scottish Government is looking into the feasibility of using mobile abattoirs as a solution to the lack of affordable slaughter options available to farmers and crofters, particularly those in more remote areas.
It is important that the Scottish Government now do their due diligence and thoroughly investigate the practicalities of implementing mobile abattoirs in these areas, the costs of compliance with the extensive regulations surrounding abattoirs and any bio-security issues."
Mr McCornick went on: "This is a problem with no one perfect outcome. Mobile abattoirs are not a one size fits all solution, but could provide a valuable service to farm businesses looking to add value to their stock by butchering at home, or supplying local produce to local retail or catering customers such as hotels, restaurants or farm shops.
"A mobile service could also be a great service for spent hens, especially for smaller producers up north who struggle to get loads of hens away due to the small numbers. By having a mobile abattoir available to them, these producers would have access to a far more practical means of slaughter.
"While Scotland benefits from having a number of large-scale abattoirs available, and some significant investment going into that sector, mobile abattoirs could be an important part of ensuring a more comprehensive abattoir service across all parts of Scotland."
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