Abattoir threat for Borders

- Published: 01 October, 2006

Local butchers in the Scottish borders may be forced to buy their meat from outside the region if the Borders' last abattoir is closed in the wake of a Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) report.

Fears have been expressed that re-approval of the Scottish Borders Abattoir (SBA) in Galashiels, which is required under the new EU hygiene regulations introduced in January 2006, may not be forthcoming due to what critics have described as over-zealous implementation by the MHS.

Christine Grahame, member of the Scottish Parliament has called on Scottish ministers to intervene and to investigate precisely what has led to the threat of closure.

She said that if the abattoir closed it would result in the loss of 30 jobs and a significant impact on the region.

Hamish Deans, chairman of SBA, said that Food Standards Agency Scotland had advised him to go to court so he could continue slaughtering as he had not been re-issued a licence.

Deans said he would be using the subsequent eight weeks grace granted by the court to carry out the work required..