Comhairle nan Eilean Siar PRESS RELEASE 28 March 2002 For Use: Immediately

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Private Slaughter Of Livestock

The Environmental Services and Sustainable Development Committees of the Comhairle yesterday considered a report summarising the legal advice received by the Comhairle on the private slaughter of livestock.

The report explained that as from April 2002, due to European regulations, the home-kill of livestock will be illegal. All sheep and cattle that are to be eaten, whether by crofters themselves, or members of their immediate family, or for sale, must be killed in a licensed slaughterhouse.

At present there is only one licensed slaughterhouse in the Western Isles, in Barra, and it was made clear that once these new regulations are introduced in April, any form of home-kill, including that carried out by licensed itinerant slaughterers, will not be permitted.

The regulations are intended to remove the possibility of CJD spreading into humans from retail sales of meat or from home-kill.

Commenting on the report and the views expressed by members of the Committee, Cllr. Angus Nicolson, Chairman of the Environmental Services Committee, said "These new regulations will put an end to home kill which is an outdated practice. The Environmental Services Committee made it clear that it expects these new regulations to be rigorously enforced. Clearly the crofting community has a key role to play in getting this important message across to all concerned. We will be contacting crofters throughout the Islands to explain the situation".

The Comhairle is aware of the difficulties facing the crofting community. The Chairman of Sustainable Development, Cllr. Donald Maclean, said: “We recognise the difficulties that will be caused to the crofting community by the implementation of these tight regulations on slaughtering in home premises. In light of this, the Comhairle is calling special meetings of the Crofting Joint Liaison Committee in the Uists and in Lewis to which representatives of the crofting community will be invited. At the meetings, there will be ample opportunity to discuss the way forward for crofting and slaughtering in the Western Isles.

In the meantime, the Comhairle is in discussions with the liquidators of Heather Isle Meats to establish the earliest opportunity when the Comhairle will be able to progress matters”.

It is intended that the meetings will be held within the next two to three weeks.

Ends

Issued by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
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email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk