Well spotted, Chris Vinson (Herald, June 27) re: ‘Harmonisation’ of rules in the EU and between the US. Most people do not realise that the EU is fundamentally a lobbying centre for large multinationals.

As part of my duties working for EDDC, I did holiday relief meat inspection duties at the local slaughterhouses. Gradually, they all closed down, partly by EU legislation generated by the larger slaughterhouses.

OK, so no one wanted a slaughterhouse in their village or town anyway, but the result is that there is less competition and animals now have to be transported much further, possibly increasing stress levels in the animals.

Lawrie Brownlee

Sidmouth