Dan Neville
Ceist:102 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will introduce a mechanical grading system for the purpose of classifying beef carcases. [22752/02]
Written Answers. - Animal Carcase Grading.
I fully support the introduction of a mechanical classification system and I will continue to do everything possible to progress the matter. The decision to allow technical grading is one which will be taken at EU level.
Mechanical grading trials were carried out in Ireland in August 1999 and March 2000. Similar trials were also carried out in Germany, Denmark and France. The consensus of opinion was that the trials in Ireland had been carried out in a highly professional manner. While the three machines involved achieved high accuracy results in relation to conformation and meat content of the carcases, they were less accurate in relation to fatness and, in general, failed to attain the standards set down by the EU Commission in a draft regulation setting standards to be met by these machines prior to their approval for classification purposes.
Following discussion in the beef management committee, the Commission agreed to carry out a pilot test to examine whether the standards and procedures set out in the draft regulation were practicable. Germany was selected as the venue for the pilot test and a trial was carried out in September last year in which my Department was involved. Based on the results of this trial, a draft regulation is now being formulated by the EU Commission which will set down the standards to be met by the machines and the procedures for approving them. Publication of such a regulation will clear the way for the development of a machine capable of meeting the required standards in Ireland.