Vol. 514 No. 6
107 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the steps, if any, he will take to accelerate the mechanical grading of animals and ensure it is implemented at all factories and processing plants in view of the recent impasse between farmers and processors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5059/00]
Over the past year, considerable progress has been made in the effort to perfect a mechanical beef classification system. Trials have been carried out in this country under the auspices of my Department to test the accuracy of three systems of mechanical classification equipment which use video image technology to predict the EUROP classification grid and the yield of saleable meat. The exercise showed that mechanical classification has definite potential but some further refinements are still required to improve the systems. All three systems will be subjected to a final evaluation in a live run in a meat plant in early March. Following that trial, the results will be presented to the European Commission with a view to progressing the introduction of a mechanical classification system, which will require an amendment to the EU carcass classification regulations and, therefore, by definition, the approval of the Commission.
