Coveney critical of supermarkets’ absence at beef forum

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association has queried the absence of supermarket representatives from the round-table forum set up by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney earlier this year in response to the crisis in the beef industry.

ICSA beef committee chairman Edmond Phelan said the supermarkets are dictating labelling policy and also influencing factory specifications.

“Why are they not at the table?” asked Mr Phelan “They are key stakeholders in the beef sector and need to be held accountable for the role of their practices in creating and prolonging the crisis.”