The Cabildo allocates 663,000 Euros for the subsidy of the slaughtering services provided by the Matadero Insular de Tenerife (MIT). The Primary Sector councillor, Valentín González, explains that the Island Corporation has signed a collaboration agreement with this entity, aimed at “financing the slaughtering fees for carcasses (cuts in joint carcass operations that the meat animals undergo after slaughter to form the carcass). The intention of the measure is to contribute to supporting the activity of Tenerife’s cattle farmers, the majority of whom are users of this service. According to the agreement, the MIT’s slaughtering and transport fees are suspended for twelve months for farmers. In the case of traders, they could benefit from this measure if there is a contract in place, in accordance with the food chain law, ensuring that the farmer benefits from it.
González emphasizes that “the purpose of these subsidies is to improve the situation of the Island’s livestock sector, which has had to face, in recent years, the increase in raw material prices for feed, as well as the rise in energy and fuel prices, which hinders the competitiveness of Tenerife’s livestock products.” The beneficiaries of these subsidies will be all the operators of the slaughterhouse, that is, the users of the slaughtering services of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and rabbits, provided they meet certain requirements.
The foundations
The regulatory bases for the subsidies in favour of the users of the Matadero Insular de Tenerife, through the total subsidy of the fees for the slaughtering services of carcasses, were approved by agreement of the Island Government Council on April 10 and published in the Official Bulletin of the Province (BOP) on the 19th of the same month. The fees imposed by MITSA for slaughtering are fully financed by the Cabildo for a period of twelve months or until the funds are exhausted. This period started retroactively on February 15. The Canarian Indirect General Tax (IGIC) that may be generated from the services for which the fees are exempted from collection is not considered as eligible expenses; expenses related to fees paid outside the subsidizable period; fees for carcass transportation, as well as dismemberment tasks or additional work for the production of by-products incurring additional expenses.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of Matadero Insular de Tenerife SA convenes the General Shareholders’ Meeting on May 20 at 12:00 hours, at the company’s registered office, Alfredo Hernández Street, s/n, El Ortigal (La Laguna). The agenda with four points includes the examination and approval, if applicable, of the corporate management; likewise with the annual accounts for the year ended on December 31, 2023, or the allocation of the results for the year 2023, as well as the preparation, reading, and approval, if applicable, of the minutes of the Meeting.
Features
The Matadero Insular de Tenerife is an entity that serves the primary sector, being responsible for the slaughter and cutting of carcasses under strict quality and sanitary controls. The Fresh Meats of Tenerife (Kilometer 0) brand quickly and clearly identifies the products of farmers who certify the quality of their products through the facilities of the Matadero Insular. This ensures the origin of meat products as well as their traceability, guaranteeing animal welfare throughout the process. One of its essential functions is the identification of products, in accordance with European regulations. This guarantees their origin and their hygienic and health guarantees.
Quality control
The Matadero Insular de Tenerife follows a rigorous quality control to ensure that consumers on the island always have the best pieces, controlling and informing about the origin of the products. It has specific protocols for thorough animal welfare control that include continuous staff training, documentation control, surveillance cameras for unloading supervision, control of stabling, handling, driving, and pre-slaughter stunning. Animal welfare, good handling practices, and food hygiene are guaranteed in all production processes, resulting in safe and high-quality products.
A bit of history
Matadero Insular de Tenerife SA was established on May 21, 1993. It is an island-based company adopting the form of a Public Limited Company. Currently, the Cabildo de Tenerife holds a 33.7% stake in its share capital, with the rest of the shareholding held by municipalities, as well as by the livestock, butcher, and industrial sectors. The company’s purpose is the management of livestock slaughtering activity, as well as all those activities that are complementary and necessary for the better provision of the economic activity. Likewise, the slaughterhouse has an important function from the public health point of view, as it is the final control point, both for live animals before slaughter and for carcasses before they enter the market. The creation of the Company responds to the island’s need, following the guidelines of Public Health to close municipal slaughterhouses and create a single one on the Island with the sanitary requirements established by specific regulations. Furthermore, it is essential for Tenerife to have a slaughterhouse that meets all the guarantees and allows high-quality carcasses that can compete in the market.
