Many farmers who are reliant on those abattoirs which remain say they want to see more support for the sector.
Andrew Compton, a sheep farmer from Redhill, Surrey, who uses Smith’s abattoir, says losing it would be “catastrophic”.
Compton says for some abattoirs, the high court ruling comes “too late”.
“The damage has been done,” he said,
“The forms of redress to that overcharging still remain unclear.
“I think there will be abattoirs that have fallen by the wayside, since the advent of this ruling that are not retrievable, so the damage is done.”
Aims’ veterinary director Peter Hewson says “immediate action” is needed “to address the dire situation medium-sized slaughterhouses find themselves in following the increase in charges this year”.
Hewson says: “Any delay will result in businesses closing as a direct result of FSA’s unlawful charges.”
It may be many months before the abattoirs are reimbursed by the FSA – a bill that could run into millions of pounds.