IFA National Livestock Chairman Henry Burns has called on the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to take action and address the lack of competition in the beef sector, which the Irish Farmer’s Associations says will be compounded by the proposed ABP investment in Slaney/ICM meat group.
At a briefing session with politicians in Dublin today (January 14), Burns told Minister Coveney that he needs to tackle the price gap that has opened between Irish and British cattle prices.
He also explained that livestock farmers are worried about competition in beef processing and rendering if the proposed sale of the Allen family 50% share of the Slaney/ICM business to ABP goes through.
The IFA has demanded that the Government makes a submission to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission through the Minister for Agriculture on guaranteeing competition in processing and rendering for farmers.
Burns then called on the Minister to work to remove the obstacles inhibiting live export trade to the UK, saying, “It is the Minister’s responsibility to ensure that Irish farmers and exporters have full access to the EU single market.
“In this regard, he must resolve the EU labelling issues that are being used by processors and retailers to impede the live export trade and price competition.”
© 2016 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan.
