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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Staff return to work at abattoir | Staff return to work at abattoir |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Shifts have restarted at a Gwynedd abattoir, two weeks after 47 workers were laid off with the firm blaming the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey. | Shifts have restarted at a Gwynedd abattoir, two weeks after 47 workers were laid off with the firm blaming the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey. |
| Cig Cibyn abattoir in Caernarfon had said operations would be suspended until a meat export ban was lifted. | Cig Cibyn abattoir in Caernarfon had said operations would be suspended until a meat export ban was lifted. |
| The ban on exporting UK meat and animal products ended on Saturday. | The ban on exporting UK meat and animal products ended on Saturday. |
| It is not known if all the abattoir staff have returned. Gwynedd Council has been in talks about short-term aid to enable the plant to reopen. | |
| Around 70% of the lamb handled at the Cig Cibyn plant is exported. | Around 70% of the lamb handled at the Cig Cibyn plant is exported. |
| Earlier, Gwynfor Roberts, co-director of the company, had said he believed the abattoir would be able to trade this week and had said his target date was Tuesday. | Earlier, Gwynfor Roberts, co-director of the company, had said he believed the abattoir would be able to trade this week and had said his target date was Tuesday. |
| He had said he hoped all the workforce would be re-employed, saying: "To be honest, we need to have a full workforce or none of them. There's no happy medium." | He had said he hoped all the workforce would be re-employed, saying: "To be honest, we need to have a full workforce or none of them. There's no happy medium." |
| We hope to be able to propose support for the company to re-start trading following the lifting of the ban on exports Gwynedd Council spokesman | We hope to be able to propose support for the company to re-start trading following the lifting of the ban on exports Gwynedd Council spokesman |
| On 16 August, directors said that they had been left with no choice but to lay off staff following the export ban imposed after two foot-and-mouth cases were confirmed in Surrey. | On 16 August, directors said that they had been left with no choice but to lay off staff following the export ban imposed after two foot-and-mouth cases were confirmed in Surrey. |
| At the time, co-director Sian Pritchard said 47 workers had been laid off at the plant and a further 17 allied jobs had also been affected. | At the time, co-director Sian Pritchard said 47 workers had been laid off at the plant and a further 17 allied jobs had also been affected. |
| She added that they had decided to "mothball" rather than face a situation where the business would face "real financial difficulties". | She added that they had decided to "mothball" rather than face a situation where the business would face "real financial difficulties". |
| They met Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones to discuss financial help. | They met Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones to discuss financial help. |
| Mr Roberts said the firm was still in discussions with Gwynedd Council regarding some kind of aid package. | Mr Roberts said the firm was still in discussions with Gwynedd Council regarding some kind of aid package. |
| Talks ongoing | Talks ongoing |
| A Gwyneth Council spokesman said: "Cig Cibyn Ltd is a valued employer and provides an important service to local food producers. | A Gwyneth Council spokesman said: "Cig Cibyn Ltd is a valued employer and provides an important service to local food producers. |
| "The council has held a series of meetings with the company during the past weeks, and we hope to be able to propose support for the company to re-start trading following the lifting of the ban on exports." | "The council has held a series of meetings with the company during the past weeks, and we hope to be able to propose support for the company to re-start trading following the lifting of the ban on exports." |
| He added that that discussions with the company would continue in the coming days. | He added that that discussions with the company would continue in the coming days. |
| The ban on exporting UK meat and animal products was lifted on Saturday following a decision by the European Commission. | The ban on exporting UK meat and animal products was lifted on Saturday following a decision by the European Commission. |
| Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said the re-opening of the EU market for Welsh farm produce, particularly for lamb, would be "vital" to the economic well-being of the Welsh livestock industry. | Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said the re-opening of the EU market for Welsh farm produce, particularly for lamb, would be "vital" to the economic well-being of the Welsh livestock industry. |
| General restrictions on animal movements imposed in Wales were lifted last Thursday. | General restrictions on animal movements imposed in Wales were lifted last Thursday. |