It is with regret that I heard of the death of David Taylor MP my condolence to his family.
Over the last 18 months David has worked with me to help promote better standards of production and the introduction of a standard assurance scheme for the slaughter of Halal Meat here in the UK for the benefit of the Muslim community here in the UK.
Working with EBLEX, the industry body of the English Beef and Lamb sector, I have produced a DVD called A Quality Meat Supply Chain for the Muslim Consumer. This work was presented to David who in turn has promoted better standards for Halal Meat production across the parties at Westminster for the betterment of the Muslim community here in the UK.
David was a member of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) and was a keen supporter of animal welfare issues. With his support we have raised the standard with which animal are slaughtered for the Halal meat market and helped move Halal meat from a Group 4 product (a food for which there is no recognized assurance scheme) to a Group 1 product (a food with an assurance scheme such as Red Tractor) within the issue of Public Sector Food Procurement.
Without his support I believe the Muslim community here in the UK would have been denied assured Halal Meat, as member of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) he felt that the UK were missing out on the £ billion halal meat industry exporting to the Middle East and the regeneration to the farming community.
Naved Syed can be contacted on 07831 544012.
Email; navedsyed@yahoo.co.uk
