Imports ‘threaten €2.25bn industry’

Strasbourg: Imports are posing a serious threat to the €2.25 billion Irish beef industry, the IFA and Meat Industry Ireland have told EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson at a meeting in Strasbourg.

The delegation said it had a positive reception by the commissioner, one of the key EU team in the world trade talks. From being a net exporter, Europe has become a beef importer. EU production has fallen in the past eight years from 115% self-sufficiency to 95%.

“Uncontrolled imports of Brazilian beef are a serious threat to the Irish industry. Processors are concerned that with decoupled payments, production will drop unless a viable price is paid,” the group said.