Tasmanian meat producers should be allowed to commercially process meat on their farms without going through an abattoir, Labor says.
Leader Dean Winter is backing the Southern Tasmanian Association of Meat Processors’ campaign for reform.
Following recent meat processing plant closures, Winter says changes to regulations that are stifling innovation and preventing producers from adding value to their products are needed.
He argues that current regulations are “needlessly prohibiting” farmers from selling meat products processed on their own farms.
“Humans have been killing animals on their farms and selling them at market for thousands of years. It’s frankly bureaucracy gone mad to say we can’t do it,” Winter said.
“We’re talking about producers who are already doing on-site kills and eating it themselves, giving it to their family members, legally, but they’re not able to sell it.”
The meat processors’ association said there are several benefits of on-farm processing, including reduced stress on animals by eliminating transport and the creation of on-farm jobs.
Matt Tack of Our Mates’ Farm said that meat processing often occurs “out of sight” and isn’t commonly discussed.
“People are really switched on with animal welfare these days and the last thing they want to hear about is animals having to be trucked five, six, seven hours or even across Bass Strait to be processed,” he said.
“They want to know that the animals they’re eating have had a great life and that last part of their life has been as little stress as possible.”
Winter has sponsored a petition on behalf of the meat processors’ association and will present it to Parliament at a later date.
