SUPERMARKETS have been attacked by Food and Farming Minister Lord Rooker as the British pig farming industry heads into meltdown.

Speaking in the House of Lords, he said: "If supermarkets want to see the end of English pork production, they are going exactly the right way about it.

"We fully support the claims of the industry that pig farmers should get a fairer share of the price."

His comments were welcomed by Stewart Houston, chairman of the National Pig Association, who farms at Thornborough, near Bedale.

He welcomed the Government's acknowledgement of the problem and the role that supermarkets could have in helping to solve it.

"The price has started to rise, but farmers are yet to see the benefit as too little of the money is being passed back down the chain to those who need is most, the pig farmers," he said.

Lord Rooker also praised Britain's pig rearing welfare standards saying: "It is true that we have the highest welfare standards in the world."

Mr Houston said: "This is particularly significant as the demise of the industry would lead to poorer quality imports, which would represent a significant blow for consumers as they will be left with little choice and be forced to accept inferior pork, bacon and ham."

During the debate, Lord Taylor of Holbeach criticised current food labelling, which Lord Rooker agreed was "very unsatisfactory".

He said: "Labelling for food shows where the product underwent its last significant process, as opposed to where the food was grown or reared.

"This is something we are dealing with through the European Union, and the Food Standards Agency is undertaking consultation on better labelling proposals."

The British pig farming crisis is a result of soaring world feed prices, which supermarkets have not reflected in the price they pay farmers.

Producers have been selling pigs at a loss of up to £26 per pig, many cannot continue.

An NPA survey showed more than 80 per cent may halt production and switch to other farming. An online petition is at www.pigsareworthit.com.