Irish lamb to be pushed at top event

QUALITY lamb products from Ireland and other member states will be promoted at the European Parliament in Brussels this evening.

Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel, European Parliament President Hans Pottering, some 25 MEPs and 200 representatives of lamb processors and sheep farmers from across the EU will attend.

Bord Bia and the respective English and French food agencies, Eblex and Interbev, are supporting the event.

It is taking place at a time when Ireland East MEP Liam Aylward is carrying out a European Parliament report into the future sheep and lamb processing sectors across the community.

Mr Aylward said more must continue to be done to ensure that EU food products, including high quality Irish lamb, are consumed in the European marketplace.

“The people of Europe have a right to know the origin of the lamb and other key food products that they purchase and consume,” he said.

Mr Aylward said one issue that he will address in the report relates to the level of increased and mandatory costs that sheep farmers have to pay at present.

“The benefits of electronic tagging have yet to be proven. Yet, it is clear that we have a strong and adequate identification and tracking system in place for sheep movements,” he added.

Mr Aylward also said the Commission must not be allowed to apply one standard for European sheep farmers and another for other countries.

“There must be a level playing pitch with regard to the rules that operate in Europe for all food products consumed by EU consumers, irrespective of their place of origin,” he said.