A WEST Devon butcher is to appeal to the high court, after a judge last Wednesday ordered four beef cattle carcasses to be condemned and destroyed.
Divisional Judge Nicholls made the order at a civil hearing at Plymouth Court after hearing the meat was not slaughtered at licensed premises and not subject to normal health, hygiene and BSE controls.
The court heard the officers were implementing guidance published by the Food Standards Agency over the private slaughter of livestock.
After the hearing, Dave Banks of WDBC said the case upheld FSA guidance.
Mr Banks said: ?It is unlawful to have animals slaughtered for human consumption by anybody but the owner unless they have been slaughtered in a licensed slaughterhouse, even if it is for the owner?s own consumption.
?It is also unlawful to have animals butchered that have not been through a licensed slaughterhouse.?
Defending solicitor Eoin Fowell said Mr Pescott was a fifth generation master butcher, who rented space at a farm where he could butcher and store meat for farmers who wished to consume their own animals.
Mr Fowell said the council?s case was brought under the widest definition of the Food Safety Act, that Mr Pescott had ?supplied? the meat to the farmer.
After the hearing, Mr Fowell said: ?At all times the meat belonged to the farmer, Mr Pescott was simply carrying out a service. There was no transfer of ownership. All he did was temporarily have the meat in his hands.?
Mr Fowell said Mr Pescott, described by the judge as honest and straightforward, would appeal to the high court against the decision. He said the ruling also meant licenced slaughterman would be unable to carry out home kills.
?Unless appealed, this marks the end for the mobile slaughtermen around Devon and Cornwall, who supply a service to many farmers and smallholders,? said Mr Fowell.