The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has asked rural affairs minister Elin Jones, to reconsider proposals which could drive small abattoirs out of business.
In a letter to the minister and the Food Standards Agency, the chairman of the Royal Welsh board of management, David Lewis, says the proposals to charge the inspection fees on a per hour, rather than per animal basis, will be financially crippling for small abattoirs.
"An adjustment must therefore be made to the charging regime to allow them to continue their important service to rural Wales," says the letter.
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Mr Lewis says the number of animals slaughtered per hour in small abattoirs is lower than in bigger units, but the procedures are equally as efficient and more welfare friendly.
But, costing veterinary time by the hour would result in a much higher charge per animal in small abattoirs.
Mr Lewis also says that because of geographic and road infrastructure difficulties, Wales is, to a great extent, dependent on small abattoirs in rural areas to support local meat suppliers and reduce food miles.
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