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Meat processors must remove legal
threats – McConalogue
06.09.19
FIANNA Fáil
Spokesperson on Agriculture Charlie McConalogue TD
has called on meat processors to remove legal
threats and agree to address key outstanding issues
in reconvened beef talks.
“The previous round of talks were unsuccessful due
to the failure of meat processors to properly
address a number of key issues in the beef supply
chain and they must now indicate a willingness to
address these in order to resolve the current beef
crisis”, said Deputy McConalogue. |
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Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on
Agriculture,
Charlie McConalogue. |
“Issues such as the 30
months age limit, the four movement rule, and the 70
day residency requirement must be up for negotiation
if farmers are to accept that meat processors are
serious about addressing their concerns.
“Meat processors must accept that they have
demonstrated no reasonable basis for the
continuation of these unjustified requirements.
“The 30 month age limit puts undue pressure on
farmers to sell cattle and contributes to a spike in
supply at the back end of each year when a
significant number of animals reach the 30 month
threshold.
“With regard to the four movement rule, meat
processors have not demonstrated any rationale as to
why animals that have moved more than four times
between quality assured farms should not be paid the
quality assurance bonus.
“The 70 day residency requirement puts an unfair
restriction on farmers selling their animals through
marts before slaughter, removing an outlet for
smaller farmers in particular to generate
competition for their finished animals.
“Meat processors need to realise that it is by
agreeing to address these key issues in resumed
talks that the current beef crisis can be addressed.
They must now remove any legal threats to farmers
and enable meaningful talks to proceed,” concluded
Deputy McConalogue. |
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