§ Viscount Torringtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they recommend small specialist livestock producers to take, in view of the demise of small slaughterhouses and the fact that the retention of ear tags is considered unhygienic, to ensure that, in the interests of traceability and the retention of quality premiums, they receive their own meat at the end of the slaughter process. [HL3125]
§ Lord DonoughueThe traceability and accurate identification throughout the slaughter process of individual animals supplied by specialist producers' depends on the integrity of the commercial service offered by the slaughterhouse rather than the size of the operation. Producers should select a slaughterhouse which offers the appropriate independently verified assurance guarantees such as those provided by Assured British Meat.