Again no slaughter at abattoir
Butchers running out of fresh beef
If you were planning to cook fresh beef this week you had better change your dinner plans: for the second week running no animals were slaughtered at the abattoir.
The action follows a running dispute between the GRTU - Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, and the Milk Producers Cooperative (KPH).
The two parties failed to see eye-to-eye on a production bonus and the timing of the introduction of meat grading at the abattoir.
In a statement it issued yesterday, the GRTU is insisting that since the government has already invested in an acceptable grading system of animals earmarked for slaughter, then it should be introduced immediately. However, KPH wishes this system to be brought in gradually.
Another bone of contention is the government's decision to eliminate, as from last January 1, the Lm5 production bonus it gave to buyers for every qantar (80kgs).
This bonus was given so that the buyer would purchase as many animals as possible from the producers.
Since the government started providing the dairy industry with subsidies according to the EU Dairy Compensation Scheme it decided to economise on this production bonus, and the GRTU is now insisting that it be reintroduced.
When contacted the Meatsellers' Association said that butchers were now running short of fresh beef and customers would have to settle for pork or chicken or imported beef until the dispute was settled.