[deepinthewoods]

The problem is that under EU regs (as implemented in England & Wales) a slaughterhouse must have both the Veterinary Service and Meat Hygiene Service. The theory is that the first is responsible for your animal prior to death, and the latter ensures the meat from said animal is fit to enter the food chain.  Both the services are Gov supplied, so cost significant amounts – hence why so many abattoirs closed, and why no mobile service could ever work - the cost of these two bods would never make it work.

If this is true (and I'm not doubting it) how can it happen in Cornwall? Is Cornwall a seperate state now?

i think this was covered in a previous thread, but, as far as i can work out, ads long as the waste is disposed of correctly and the correct method of dispatch is used, a trained mobile slaughterman is ok to use. i'll try and find the previous 'lively' thread.

[deepinthewoods]

here is the thread. its worth a careful read through. the difference seems to be between what is the fsa 'guidelines' and the actual 'law'
 
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=28970.30
 
 
as abbatiors close all round the country, leading to higher costs for smallholders it would be well worth seeking out and supporting any local mobile service you can find.

[oaklandspigs]

Sorry I gave a sloppy answer which was probably not helping !
 
Broken down into points
 
IF you are "placing on the market" - that is according to FSA anything that goes beyond the consumption by the owner or that of members of their immediate family living there - then you must use an approved slaughterhouse - and mobile ones of these would be expensive as they would need both the state vet and meat hygiene service.
 
If you are only having for consumption by you and your immediate family...etc. then according to the FSA you cannot use a mobile slaughterhouse to both kill and dress you carcase. They successfully prosecuted "Lesstress" who were offering this service in Cornwall.  However Lesstress appealed and the ruling was overturned on a technicality.  Lesstress continue to operate (www.lesstress.co.uk) and have not been prosecuted again - probably because it is too much hassle - this doesn't mean it's legal, but does indicate that the Cornish TS don't plan to take any further action.  Another TS might take action if someone started up elsewhere than in cornwall - after all the legal point was won for that case.
 
What the FSA refuse to be clear about is whether paying an itinerant slaughterman to do the actual killing is legal as long as the owner does the butchering.  Their 2006 guidance stated "If, however, the slaughterman did no more than kill the animal for the farmer, leaving the farmer to dress and cut the carcase, the Courts might be less likely to conclude that the slaughterman was supplying goods (and more likely to be supplying services). If so, this activity might be held to be lawful, (i.e. neither the Hygiene Regulations nor the TSE Regulations would prohibit it) although the issue is far from clear." The 2009 and later guidance simply omitted this sentence leaving the original one that says " It is unlawful for a farmer to use the services of an itinerant slaughterman both to slaughter his animal and to dress it "  leaving the question of "or" rather than "both" hanging neatly in nowhereland.