Irish factories ‘ban’ on Irish cattle subverting trade with UK, says ICOS

The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) has told the European Directorate for Competition that Irish meat factories are subverting the free trade of livestock between Ireland and the UK.

Michael Spellman, chairman of ICOS national marts committee, said the factories are controlling and manipulating pricing, and that they are actively discriminating against livestock marts.

In its European submission, ICOS said there is an effective ban by Irish-owned meat plants in Northern Ireland on killing live cattle from the Republic of Ireland, citing a £150 fine per animal for animals born in the Republic.