No date set to lift ban on cattle
The removal of the ban - which has been in place since the BSE outbreak - will have implications for the supply of Irish beef to Britain, where it has established a significant market for more than one-third of production, which has been giving a good return to Irish beef processors.
In the House of Commons the British Government has announced the ban, which has been responsible for keeping nearly 190,000 tonnes per annum of British beef out of the food chain in Britain in recent years, is to be phased out.
A process for the continued protection of consumers against BSE animals entering the food chain, similar to that which has operated very successfully in this country whereby all animals over 30 months are tested for BSE, is to be put in place as part of the process of lifting the ban.
The decision on the date for the changeover will be made by Britain’s Food Standards Authority, but not until it is satisfied that the testing scheme is fully operational and satisfactory.
A target date is expected to be announced in the New Year and the older animals will return to the food chain during the second quarter of the year.
The removal of the ban will result in the release of about 190,000 tonnes of beef per annum for the market in Britain.
Bord Bia estimates it will result in the displacement of about 70,000 tonnes of Irish beef.
