Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 November 2013
206. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to ensure that EU common market rules apply to the live export of cattle to Britain; the reason there have been difficulties experienced by UK farmers in slaughtering British fattened, Irish born cattle; the specific measures he is taking to have this problem addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47557/13]
View answerThe live export trade, whether to other EU member states or to third countries, serves a dual purpose in stimulating price competition for domestic cattle and satisfying a real demand in overseas markets. My Department and the Agencies under its aegis are committed to facilitating this trade to ensure that producers secure the highest possible sustainable price returns for Irish beef and live exports.
Bord Bia, through its international network of overseas offices, actively supports the development of the live export trade through the provision of market information, developing market access and promotional activity. Ireland’s trade with Britain – the highest-priced market in Europe – remains dominated by the beef trade accounting for some 50% of our export volume and at around 250,000 tonnes is equivalent to 750,000 cattle with a high level of penetration in the multiple retail sector.
However, the potential to grow the live trade to Britain is constrained by the labelling system operated by these retail chains in relation to cattle born in this country and exported live for finishing and processing in the UK. As the Irish-born / UK-finished proposition is seen as difficult to communicate to consumers and likely to create unnecessary labelling complications, the retailers’ long-standing policy is to market British and Irish beef separately. This means that beef must be sourced from animals originating in one country; i.e. born, reared and slaughtered in the same country.
While Bord Bia has repeatedly raised this issue in its discussions with British retailers over the years, there are no indications that this policy dating from 1996 is likely to be soon reversed. Nevertheless, Bord Bia in its ongoing interactions with British customers will continue to pursue all opportunities, including through any change in labelling policies, to maximise the full potential of the beef and livestock trade with our largest trading partner.
