More obstacles have been removed from the supply chain but blockages due to FMD are still causing problems for wholesalers and retailers. As The Grocer went to press the MLC was cautiously optimistic it would be able to announce the first of the new livestock collection centres on Friday, a fortnight after MAFF "gave the green light". The collection centres should further boost supply to slaughterhouses and ease some of the pressure caused by stock build-up on farms, especially smaller units but attention within the livestock sector is now tending to focus more on the threat of medium to long-term shortages due to production system problems. Lobbyists including the National Beef Association warn the present restrictions will seriously deplete numbers in dairy beef fattening units, possibly squeezing manufacturing meat supplies next year. {{M/E MEAT }}