The National Pig Association (NPA) has today published its pre-election briefing for MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates, highlighting the “forward-looking” ethos of British pig producers and calling on UK politicians to “champion the sector’s high standards”.
The document also urges MPs to lobby Government to “introduce democracy” at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, so producers have some control over how farming’s £56m levy is spent.
“British pig farmers account for over a quarter of a million jobs,” states the briefing document. “We’re close to our customers and we work closely with government and regulators to meet society’s aspirations. Please help us take further giant strides, by championing our products and our methods.”
In a “wish-list” section of the briefing, NPA urges MPs to make the association their first port of call when seeking “accurate and fully informed information” about pig sector affairs.
It also warns MPs that getting planning permission for energy-efficient new pig housing is proving increasingly difficult, due in part to public misconception about modern food production, and presses them to encourage planners and regulators to base their decisions on relevant scientific information “and to exclude misinformation and misperception about modern livestock husbandry”.