Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2019
219. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking through engagement with the beef industry and An Bord Bia to ensure that the historic 2% reduction between hot and cold weights is no longer applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14378/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application of a 2% reduction between hot and cold weights is enshrined in EU legislation. Article 7 (1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1182 states that classification and weighing shall be carried out in the slaughterhouse at the time of determining the warm weight of the carcass.
Article 14 states that the carcass weight to be taken into account for reporting the market price shall be the cold weight which shall correspond to the warm weight as referred to in Article 7(1), less 2 %.
The legislation goes on to say that slaughterhouses carrying out classification shall communicate to the supplier of the animal the carcass weight, specifying whether it relates to the warm or cold weight.
The legislation provides for a modification of the 2% deduction in the case of pigs. Any modification shall be justified on the basis of scientific data. No such provision was provided for in this 2017 legislation for beef carcasses.
