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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 6

Written Answers. - Cattle Classification System.

Billy Kelleher

Question:

34 Mr. Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the feedback, if any, received from the EU Commission in relation to the mechanical grading trial for Irish beef cattle; the timescale for the introduction of this system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17663/00]

The results of the mechanical grading trial for Irish beef cattle were communicated to the EU Commission last March and were discussed in the beef management committee in March and April in the context of a draft Commission regulation providing for mechanical classification.

The feedback from these discussions was that the trial was carried out in a highly professional manner and that the three machines tested achieved a relatively high degree of accuracy in relation to conformation and meat yield. However, the machines failed to meet the standards proposed by the Commission in a draft regulation setting down the requirements to be attained by these machines prior to their approval for use in the classification of carcasses. In general, the conclusion was that mechanical classification has very positive potential for future use, but the three machines operated in this trial need to be further developed.

The Commission now proposes to hold further trials before settling on definitive standards for mechanical classification. My Department has indicated to the Commission that it would like to undertake one of these trials. In this regard, the EU Commission announced at last week's meeting of the Beef Management Committee that it had selected Germany as the venue for a further trial which will take place next October. My Department intends to press its case for a further trial to be held in Ireland under the Commission's auspices.
I would like to see an effective mechanical classification system introduced in Ireland as soon as possible, and my Department will continue to work with the developers of these machines to improve their accuracy in classifying carcasses. However the current system of manual classification will remain in place until EU regulations have been amended to allow the use of machines, and until machines have been approved for use in classification.
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