Marts chairman urges North and South to join forces for beef sector
Mr Spellman has called on Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to engage with his counterpart in the North, Michelle O’Neill, to create a protected geographical indication category for Irish beef. This, he says, would also allow unrestricted free trade between the jurisdictions.
ICOS, the industry body for co-op livestock marts, has accused meat factories of controlling and manipulating pricing, and discriminating against livestock marts. Its proposal follows its EU submissions that Irish meat factories are subverting the free trade of livestock across the North and South, and into the UK.
“The creation of a protected geographical indication status for Irish quality-assured beef would prevent this anti-competitive practice,” Mr Spellman said. “Like a trademark, the protected geographical indication helps consumers know they are buying the ‘genuine article’ and would give legal protection around the quality, provenance, and reputation of beef produced on the island.
“It would also protect the status of mart-traded cattle as naturally and sustainably produced Irish livestock, specific to the island, adding further value to Irish-produced beef.”
ICOS welcomed the outcomes of last week’s beef roundtable talks, notably the commitment by Mr Coveney to having quarterly reviews of the sector. It says the talks must end “onerous conditions” imposed by meat plants around the movement of livestock.
It says the factories’ specs have no basis in terms of regulation or quality and no justification on animal welfare or veterinary grounds. The co-op group has also called for an end to the factory ‘bonus system’ which penalises more than four movements of livestock between farms prior to slaughter. This penalty hinders trade and distorts full and free competition for livestock, it says.
Meanwhile, the Ibec group Meat Industry Ireland also welcomed the main outcomes of the beef roundtable talks. It said the new formal communication platform agreed upon at the meeting will help to improve dialogue in the sector and ensure this takes place on a factual and fair basis.
“In relation to cattle price comparisons with the UK, the industry highlighted that a more realistic barometer for Irish cattle price is a proper comparison with a grouping of the main beef producing member states in the EU. It was noted that in terms of retail beef sales in the UK, only one kg in five is Irish,” a spokesman said.
