Beef genomic programme’s six-year tie-in too draconian

There may be a temptation to think that ongoing development of our beef sector has been overtaken by events.

But — and without in the least minimising last week’s BSE case in Louth and the potential challenges represented — it would be a profound mistake to put long-standing plans on ice, while the implications and responses are worked through.

ICMSA believes that whatever problems are presented by the case that our response and traceability systems are of such a standard that the cause will be rapidly identified and addressed in so comprehensive a manner that the confidence of our domestic and international customers need not be disturbed.