A strike by government vets in Northern Ireland over a pay dispute may lead to the closure of some meat factories next week, warns the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA).
The strike is set to last five days, and the BMPA cautions that the absence of official vets in abattoirs will prevent the slaughter of cattle, pigs, sheep, and poultry, disrupting the food supply chain.
The Nipsa union, representing the vets, says their strike is in response to a "derisory pay award." While supermarkets downplay the risk of shortages, the BMPA highlights commercial and animal welfare concerns, especially in the pork sector.