EU is beef industry’s best hope, says Deane

THE future challenges facing the beef sector in the European Union are very significant but not without opportunity, according to an IFA leader who has been elected chairman of a powerful group which advises the Commission.

Derek Deane was elected to head the Beef Meat Standing Group of the Commission’s Livestock Products Standing Group in Brussels.

The group, which advises the Commission on all aspects of the beef and livestock market and on European beef policy, includes producer, processor and consumer representatives from across the European Community.

Mr Deane, the IFA livestock committee chairman from Hacketstown, Co Carlow, said the European beef market has made an exceptional recovery from the BSE crisis of November 2000 and has now returned to balance.

“We should now be coming into a period of stable consumption and balanced market providing stronger prices,” he said.

Mr Deane said the recent European agreement on the CAP budget has taken the impetus out of the Fischler mid-term review proposals.

“Modulation is now off the table and the large majority of member state Governments are strongly opposed to decoupling,” he said.

Mr Deane said it is now emerging across member states, the significant damage decoupling would inflict on European beef meat production and particularly quality beef production from the suckler herd.

He said he will vigorously defend and promote the European beef sector in his role as Chairman of the EU Commission Standing Group.

“The future of the EU beef sector is dependent on viable incomes for producers through a combination of high product prices and direct payments,” he said.