Irish factories ‘ban’ on Irish cattle subverting trade with UK, says ICOS
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.
The co-op body also cited a 12c/kg ‘bonus’ for animals moved through fewer than four farms, which acts as a fine on animals with a greater number of movements. ICOS also cited US legislation being enacted to outlaw meat processors from owning beef feedlots because of the distortion to trade.
“The factories are levying abbatoir fines on livestock, even though these livestock are compliant with the relevant regulations in both jurisdictions,” said Mr Spellman. “For reasons best known to themselves, Irish-owned meat factories have demanded adherence to onerous conditions around the movement of livestock and which have no basis in terms of regulation or quality and no justification on animal welfare or veterinary grounds.”
The ICOS position was backed up by the Northern Ireland Livestock Auctioneers Association who attended the meeting with the Directorate-General for Competition in Brussels. The IFA also attended. ICOS had also consulted with the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association, Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association and Northern Ireland Meat Exporters’ Association.
