Changes will put hundreds of jobs at risk, warns meat processing industry

THE meat processing industry warned last night that the CAP reform proposals would put hundreds of jobs at risk and result in export losses to the economy of €500 million a year.

It said the proposals, particularly the decoupling of premia payments, would have a devastating impact on farming and on the processing sector.

Irish Meat Association chief executive John Smith said it is difficult to reconcile claims that producer prices will increase as a result of decoupling with offers being made by the EU to reduce both import tariffs and export subsidies.