150 jobs under threat at meat producer

Concern has been raised that more than 100 jobs could be lost at a local abattoir and meat producer due to new export regulations into Europe.

It is understood Randall Parker Foods at Dolwen, Llanidloes and the former Laura Ashley headquarters in Carno, is considering cutting jobs due to a drop in sales as a result of Brexit trade regulations that came into force on 1 January.

Politicians have urged action.

Powys county councillor Elwyn Vaughan, who is also the Senedd Plaid Cymru candidate for Montgomeryshire said; “This news is of huge concern to all and is a direct result of the Conservative’s Brexit deal which will undermine our red meat sector as it’s already doing to the fishing sector."

Alison Alexander, Liberal Democrat Senedd candidate for Montgomeryshire said: "The government urgently needs to review the new administrative system in place with the EU and work directly with the relevant stakeholders including farming unions, producers and port/transport authorities to solve the problems at hand, before people’s livelihoods are lost.

“Only last month lamb farmers were warning this new Brexit deal could mean New Zealand farmers will have to go through less red tape than their British counterparts due to the lack of an ‘equivalence agreement’ on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) within the EU-UK Deal which is present in the EU-NZ Deal.”