A new high-tech Lm1.5 million meat processing plant - BBQ Centre Ltd - was opened at Burmarrad by Joanna Drake, Head of Representation of the European Commission in Malta.

BBQ Centre Ltd, trading under the label Barbecue World, employs 18 workers.

Co-partners of BBQ Centre Ltd Frank Grima and Jason Pace said the venture is the first in its operational design to comply with all EU regulations offering meat products that are fully traceable, safe and certified.

The company has a retail outlet in Burmarrad. There the production staff can be seen marinating the meat through needle injected automated machines to give an even distribution of flavours.

BBQ World operates under an EU plant licence for meat cutting and processing and it is EU inspected, the firm said.

The economies of scale were previously too big for the local market. The minimum amount of meat for a machine to process is two tons. "There is not enough local fresh meat to satisfy that sort of demand, and there is not enough room for the existing farms to expand. So we will also import frozen meat and process it at very low temperatures. The customers will not be able to re-freeze it, but they will benefit from a long shelf-life," Mr Grima explained.

He said the machines scan the meat and calculate the exact fat content.

Nectar Ltd of Ta' Qali are the sales and distribution partner of BBQ World.