Animal feed warning

THE ANIMAL feed industry has warned Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Mary Coughlan that Ireland faces up to €40m of extra costs unless the EU decision to reject imports of genetically modified Herculex maize can be reversed.

Irish Grain and Feed Association Director Deirdre Webb asked the Minister to ensure Ireland plays a lead role in reversing the decision, which she said would lead to an escalation in the price of animal feed here, eroding the competitiveness of our food exports.

Ms Webb said the EU decision effectively eliminated access to 800,000 tonnes of maize by-products imported from the US every year by Irish animal feed companies. “As supplies of GM-free maize by-products are not available elsewhere, the Irish feed industry will be forced to source 800,000 tonnes of replacement products at an additional cost of up to €40m. This will have a serious effect on animal feed prices and on the competitiveness of livestock products on our major export markets.”