Minister slams meat importers
He said food imports are running at 3 billion annually, compared to exports of 6 billion. Some 11,000 tonnes of beef are being imported every year.
“I am at a loss to understand the reasons for these imports. The quantities involved are too great to suggest that they are catering for a niche market.
“I know that Bord Bia too is concerned about these imports and has initiated a counter measure, the Feile Bia campaign, to raise the awareness right across the community of the quality characteristics of home produced food products.
“I endorse that campaign and would encourage all hotels, restaurants and food outlets to fully participate,” he told last week’s Dáil debate on agriculture. He welcomed recommendations by the Food Labelling Group, that information on the origin of all meats be indicated.
Minister Aylward welcomed IFA’s demand that large supermarkets publicly account for their perceived, excessive profit margins at the expense of farmers and consumers, particularly on beef, sheep meat and bacon. “I hope that they pursue that campaign with full vigour until it is successful”.
“It is outrageous that the primary producer of the highest quality meat is paid a small fraction of the final price the consumer must pay.
“It is not so long ago that Commissioner Ray McSharry and Minister Joe Walsh put the most fundamental reform of the CAP in place. This involved transferring payments from the meat companies, and instead paying the price supports directly to farmers.”
