How the meat industry's emergency plan helped the pandemic

Michael Gore, general manager of FEBEV, prepared a contingency plan during the pandemic to best cope with the outbreak effects of the pandemic.

At the first signs of the coronavirus in Europe, business leaders immediately realized how dire the situation could be for their business. Michael Gore immediately took the Belgian meat companies under his wing.

Manpower comes first

The risks of an infectious disease outbreak are by no means new. When many employees become ill, the continuity of a complex network of human interactions ranging from livestock farmers, road hauliers to meat companies is endangered.

The aim is to guarantee the continuity of business activities

Michael Gore's roadmap focuses on containing the outbreak and taking precautions. The initiative received a lot of support because it was industry-oriented and the goal was very clear from the start: to guarantee the continuity of business activities.

During the first wave, the government appeared to pursue the same goal with a valuable interaction between industry and government, in particular with the FASFC. This collaboration later proved essential in managing the risks.

In the summer of 2020, Belgian neighboring countries were hit by serious outbreaks, while Belgian companies were spared, thanks to the quick start that the Belgian meat industry had made.

Belgium is not going back to the past

Like many other industries, the meat industry will not return to the situation before March 13, 2020, when the pandemic started in Belgium.

The Belgian meat industry has meanwhile set the improvements based on hygiene and food safety as a new standard, which will serve as the norm from now on.

Source: euromeatnews.com