EU must ensure trade talks do not expose area to cheap produce: IFA

Europe needs to ensure that any food imported into the region is produced to the same high environmental and animal welfare standards as the food produced by farmers in Ireland, said the IFA’s Harold Kingston.

Newly appointed as IFA environment and rural affairs chairman, Mr Kingston has called upon EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos to ensure that the EU’s international trade talks do not open up the region to cheap, low quality food produce.

“Ireland’s grass-based farming ensures that food is produced to the highest environmental and animal welfare standards,” said Mr Kingston. “Our food is amongst the most emission-efficient in the world. The same cannot be said of regions such as South America. The commission must insist that countries who export into the EU achieve the same high standards as farmers in Ireland.”

Speaking during the IFA’s recent annual general meeting, Mr Kingston also sought a commitment from Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to review the unworkable calendar farming regime, starting with addressing the issue of classifying dirty water as slurry.

Mr Kingston also called on Mr Coveney to run information meetings for farmers to explain the implication of the new land improvement regulations for farmers who want to reclaim or improve their farms.

Mr Kingston is a dairy farmer from Summerhill, Courtmacsherry, Co Cork. He operates a milk production partnership with two neighbours which supplies Barryroe Co-op.