Booming black market in meat is slicing into the legal meat market's operations

According to the strategic investor of Animeks, US-based-concern Smithfield Foods, the difficult situation in the meat market in Poland is largely caused by the existence of a big black-market. Animeks is to close down its plants in Rawa Mazowiecka and Przylepa,despite government intervention. However, Animeks says if the situation changes for the better, then the plants may be reopened. The plants' equipment will be kept even though the workers (960 from Rawa and 350 from Przylepa) will be laid off. The president of Animeks' supervisory board and the first vice-president of Smithfield say that the existence of small illegal plants and lack of appropriate heath certificates is an obstacle in negotiations with the European Union (EU). (Parkiet, page 3) E.B.