Drop in Third Country beef exports

A SHARP drop in Irish exports of beef and live animals to Third Country markets over the past year has been confirmed in end of year EU returns for licences issued.

EU figures to the end of the 2003-04 GATT year on June 30 last show that Irish exports fell by 13 per cent during the year with just over 73,000 tonnes including both beef and live animals.

Within this, total fresh and frozen beef accounted for 92 per cent at a total of 67,000 tonnes. Exports of live animals represented a total equivalent of 5,400 tonnes carcass weight.