AQW 5133/17-22


Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast


Tabled Date: 23/06/2020
Answered On Date: 22/07/2020
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for his assessment of the continued operation of meat factories, given significant recent outbreaks of COVID-19 associated with them in Wales, Germany and elsewhere.


Answer:
Thank you for your question in relation to the recent outbreaks of COVID-19 associated with meat factories in Wales, Germany and elsewhere.
Firstly, I would like to assure you, that, I share and appreciate your concerns around the recent COVID-19 outbreaks associated with meat factories in Wales, Germany and other countries throughout the world.
In response to, and from the outset of this crisis, my officials have facilitated regular (often daily) meetings between the relevant representative industry bodies, individual food business operators (FBOs), Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland (FSANI), Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) and the Public Health Agency (PHA). The principal objective of these meetings and associated communications is to ensure that industry are familiar with and implementing the latest PHA guidance which is primarily aimed at ensuring a safe and hygienic working environment for all personnel and minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace.
These fora have proved hugely beneficial, providing attendees with the opportunity to engage with PHA, HSENI and other relevant officials on a range of COVID-19 related control issues including:
Development of site specific risk assessments
Risk mitigation measures and control strategies
Communication strategies and plans
Testing protocols and access to testing
Contact Tracing
Outbreak management plans
In addition, HSENI as the enforcement authority have strategically rolled out a series of unannounced inspections across the meat processing sector to ensure compliance with all COVID related PHA guidance.
As COVID-19 related restrictions are gradually eased across society, industry representatives have been reminded of the need to maintain vigilance and please be assured that my officials will continue to monitor the situation and keep me appraised of any new developments.