Move to Raise Levy Gets Ministerial Approval
UK - A move to restore the levy paid to BPEX by pig producers and processors to 31.05p has been given ministerial approval.The levy paid by producers was cut by 10p last year from 85p to 75p per pig slaughtered in response to the crisis faced by producers when they saw their feed costs rocket.
The re-instatement of the levy follows an industry consultation on the BPEX business plan for the coming year as part of the overall Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) business plan. The change will take effect from 6 April 2009.
BPEX Chairman Stewart Houston said, "This means the total amount paid by producers and processors will be going back up to ¡1.05 per pig.
"The cut was made in recognition of the difficult times the industry was going through. Since then, the market has improved though it would be wrong to believe everything in the garden is rosy.
"The money will be used by BPEX to implement its strategy to help create a sustainable and profitable future for the English industry."