Deal reached on carcass grading

AGREEMENT has been reached between the Department of Agriculture and IMPACT on redeployment arrangements for carcass grading staff at the country’s meat factories.

Mechanical grading is due to replace visual inspections in the factories in January, but the meat industry says the installation of the machines could take up to eight months to complete.

Farm groups have called on Minister Joe Walsh to retain the grading staff until the meat factories are able to implement a satisfactory mechanical grading system.