The government reached an agreement with the slaughterers at the abattoir yesterday, after continuation of talks on new procedures being introduced to meet EU criteria.

The issue led to no cattle being slaughtered on Monday when talks reached an impasse. The GRTU, the slaughterers’ representative, said that yesterday’s talks led to an assurance on how the local fresh beef market would operate to the satisfaction of breeders, slaughterers and butchers.

A reform programme which was agreed, in line with EU criteria, is due to come into effect next Monday.