Court backs plans for €2.5bn beef industry

A DECISION by the High Court has cleared the way for the possible rationalisation of the country’s €2.5 billion beef processing industry.

Mr Justice Liam McKechnie rejected a challenge by the Competition Authority to an agreement reached between most beef processors represented by the Beef Industry Development Society (BIDS) to rationalise the sector.

In a 103-page judgment, he held that the authority had failed to produce credible evidence to show that the agreement, if implemented, would prevent, restrict and distort competition.