As stated in previous blogs signs of a genuine unity across industry to deal with the full cost recovery issue have emerged, so hopefully a progressive campaign along these lines can continue to grow.
To succeed, unity is of the upmost importance, but it has been an Achilles heel within the fresh meat industry for as long as I have been in the trade. What would be good to see is a specially-formed small group of experts, adequately funded, to get together overnight if necessary, to back up the meat trade with scientific, technical, legal and media expertise. Our own SAS if you like, flak jackets and all ,to get stuck into any government agency, or whoever, who dares to do what has so often happened in the past, i.e. to use our industry as a convenient political punchbag for sectoral gain and convenience. Enemies of the industry are out there in various different forms. Historically we just lie down and take it; in an ever changing technological world we have surely to learn to move with the times and respond accordingly.
For example, a government agency such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) would certainly think twice.
Modern day bureaucracies such as the FSA seem to have limitless amounts of money to produce self-justifying magazines (BITE is the name of one). Obviously timed to coincide with the Government’s push for full cost recovery, its autumn issue asks the question – “How safe is our meat? Bite provides the inside story”. A host of FSA commentators with fancy sounding titles then proceed to write pieces that yes, make them and their roles sound important but no, in the realities of the fresh meat industry provide exactly the opposite to what the eminent BBC correspondent and FSA Board member M/s Margaret Gilmore has said.......”Our (the FSA).......aim is to see that food regulations are effective, risk-based and proportionate”. What a joke.
Another regular issue that arrives in the post that provides regular dustbin practice after forcing myself to read it is”The Tec Files”, another self –rewarding offering from the FSA. This (as does a feature in Bite) introduces a Mr Andrew Rhodes, the latest Director of Technical Operations, a man who appears as an example of the ultimate bureaucrat who believes he has the right to lecture industry spokesmen who criticize officialdom, but who then proceeds to produce the most mind –numbing bilge I have ever read! People like Mr Rhodes should be brought to task immediately, and this is what a specially formed industry group would do through the media. Play ‘em at their own game!
Also, a typical example of time-wasting and resource- abusing arrived for abattoir operators just before Christmas from Mr Geoff Ogle FSA Head of Operational Delivery (who DOES think these names up)?! It was a circular letter on an improved system for recording visual contamination. Despite this document making no reference to the relevant statute law on the subject of visible contamination, another weight of unnecessary (and costly) paper work is due to be foisted upon us. They should be taken on with all guns blazing. TOBY BAKER.