Vol. 519 No. 4
1 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if the mechanical grading of cattle project has indicated that the subjectivity of manual grading can be eliminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13964/00]
I have recently launched the report of a trial of three V.I.A. classification systems, carried out jointly by my Department and Teagasc. The trial involved a comprehensive examination of the ability of three machines to predict the carcass fat and conformation grade based on the EUROP grid given to carcasses by a panel of three classifiers and also to estimate meat yield.
The trial showed that the machines were able to predict conformation and meat yield with a relatively high degree of accuracy but they had a lower accuracy level in the case of fat cover. In general, the conclusion can be drawn that mechanical classification has considerable potential but the machines tested did not achieve the level of accuracy set down by the European Commission in their initial draft regulation for the standards to be attained by these machines prior to their approval for official use.
However, following representations by my Department, the Commission now propose to allow for further trials prior to setting down the precise standards which these machines must achieve. My Department will continue to work with the developers of these machines to assess whether their accuracy can be improved and with the Commission to ensure that the standards set down in EU regulations reflect the current state of the technology.
In any event, it will not be possible for a mechanical classification system to replace the current system of manual classification until EU regulations have been amended to provide for the use of machines. For approval, any mechanical system must be capable of meeting the standards set down in these regulations. However, pending the introduction of mechanical classification, it is open to the industry and individual producers to use the machines to underpin a graded pricing system based on the meat yield.
It is right that I compliment the Dawn Meats Group, Paul Allen from the National Food Centre and Nicholas Finnerty from the Department for spearheading this project. Given the subjectivity which has bedevilled meat grading, unless it is carried out by mechanical graders we will never get proper quality meat. The new mechanical graders are not good on fat content or colour, with which they cannot deal properly. Will the machines be used as an alternative from now on? Will the Minister outline the next stage in the mechanical grading process? Is he raising the regulations with the EU Council of Ministers? It is vital for our beef industry that the mechanical graders can do what I hope they can in relation to lean meat content.
I also compliment the Dawn Meats Group and the Department and Teagasc for their comprehensive work on this series of trials. They have been successful in a number of areas. A further series of trials need to be conducted to allow the European Commission approve the overall mechanical grading system. We expect this approval will be given by the end of the year. In the meantime, I would encourage processers to use the system as far as saleable meat yield is concerned. The system is also good on conformation. It is important to remove the suspicion of subjective grading from the system and to achieve objective grading, which would be a considerable improvement. We are working with the European Commission to ensure the system is introduced comprehensively before the end of the year.
Is the Department prepared, if necessary, to give financial incentives to meat processors to operate the system on a wider basis, by region? It will be important to get a reading for different types of carcasses on the machines in various parts of the country.
The Department, Teagasc, the industry and the social partners are working together to ensure the acceleration of this development. Deputy Creed has tabled a question on prices in the geographic regions. There has been a question mark over the subjective grading system.
