Abattoir's funds 'run out'

Labour agriculture spokesman Noel Farrugia yesterday claimed the money voted for the running of the abattoir for this year had already run out.

He said internal meetings had been held on how to find the funds to continue carrying out BSE tests on meat.

Monday's slaughter of cattle at the abattoir had to be certified by a vet for game because no vet for beef was available.

And there were no trained slaughterers to run the abattoir's deboning plant, which the government had said would start operating this month.

Efforts to contact a government spokesman for comments proved futile.