Regulatory changes ahead for certified livestock farmer

SIGNIFICANT changes for certified, organic livestock farmers will come into effect in 2011. Butcher shops or large-scale processors will no longer be allowed use producer-specific abattoirs.

Producer-specific abattoirs or butchers are those that organic operators (businesses or farmers) use, but which are not registered with an organic certification body.

Organic farmers who use a local, ‘unregistered’ butcher and direct-sell their meat will also be affected. Local, producer-specific abattoirs or butchers must now be inspected by an organic certification body. The cost for this will be borne by the licencee, that is, the farmer.