Ministers Simon Coveney and Michelle O’Neill have agreed on a number of steps to help the trade in live animals from Ireland to Northern Ireland for slaughter. Following a meeting yesterday on the issue of “nomad” cattle, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and his Northern Irish counterpart Michelle O’Neill have agreed on a number of steps to tackle the matter:
- To look at what legally possible around country of origin labelling.
- In the case of meat from animals exported live from the Republic for slaughter in Northern Ireland, there is a strong case to be made for marketing it in Britain on an equal footing with beef born reared and slaughtered in the Republic.
- To make a joint approach to UK retailers on the matter with a view to finding solutions.
Ministers Simon Coveney and Michelle O’Neill
The traditional trade in live animals from Ireland, for slaughter in Northern Ireland, is down significantly, as UK retailers focus on marketing beef under either an “Irish” of “British” label. This has led to a reduction in demand from Northern processors for animals born in the Republic, as the meat from animals born and slaughtered in different Member States is subject to more complex labelling under EU rules.
Both Ministers agreed that the issues around origin labelling are complex, and that any consideration of them should be informed by what is legally possible, and in the best long term interests of both farmers and consumers. However, in the case of meat from animals exported live from the Republic for slaughter in Northern Ireland, there is a strong case to be made for marketing it in Britain on an equal footing with beef born reared and slaughtered in the Republic.
While the marketing of beef in retail outlets is ultimately a commercial decision, both Ministers agreed to make a joint approach to UK retailers on this matter with a view to finding solutions.
Concluding, the Ministers committed to continuing their ongoing collaboration on arrange of issues, including the harmonisation of animal health and welfare policies North and South, and to work together with a view to positioning beef produced on the island as a premium product, delivering maximum returns for farmers and restoring confidence in the beef sector in both jurisdictions.
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – Maura Fay – 24/07/2014)