UK campaign threat to Irish pigmeat exports

The British pig industry has launched a campaign against imported pork and pork products from farms non-compliant with the EU welfare directive which banned keeping sows in stalls from Jan 1 last.

The campaign threatens Ireland’s pigmeat exports to the UK, worth about €265m per year, or 58% of our total pigmeat exports.

Britain’s National Pig Association (NPA) has said only 13 countries were sow stall ban-compliant, and has mounted a ‘Wall of Fame’ campaign to persuade retailers and food companies to promise not to import pork and pork products from non-compliant farms.