Talks between the GRTU and the government broke down yesterday, as a result of which there no cattle will be slaughtered at the Marsa abattoir as from tomorrow.

GRTU said the ministry had announced a new system at the abattoir as from 15 October but this had been decided without any agreement reached with GRTU, which represents the slaughterers/middlemen.

GRTU claims that while it agrees with EU-inspired reforms regarding hygiene, other reforms being brought in by the government would break the traditional way the meat market operates.

Today, the fresh beef market is an open market and, apart from imported frozen beef, there is also the competition of fresh imported beef.