New uses for meat and bone meal urged

WITH just over a month to go before the withdrawal of all Government support for the disposal of meat and bone meal, pressure from beef producers is increasing to find a solution to the problem and avoid additional costs.

The Department of Agriculture supplementary funding of €8m to maintain state support for the disposal of meat and bone meal for a three-month extension will run out at the end of May.

The cost of up to €15 per head on cattle and proportionally on sheep will become the liability of the industry from June 1, with processors insisting that any additional costs involved will have to be carried by producers.