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RED MEAT TASK FORCE CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION

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Thursday 13th March 2008

The industry members of the Northern Ireland Red Meat Task Force are calling for Government action on a number of critical initiatives to ensure the Northern Ireland red meat industry is economically efficient and not placed at a competitive disadvantage.

Speaking before the Red Meat Seminar, organised by the Northern Ireland Assembly Agricultural Committee (13 March), Owen Brennan, Red Meat Task Force Chairman said, “The Task Force believes that all possible effort should be directed in political circles to ensure that we have a level playing field on all matters.”

The industry wants to press Government on the following:

• The effectiveness of the European Commission in regulating the industry
• Investment to achieve scale and efficiency for meat processors and on suckler and hill sheep farms in circumstances where this will lead to profitable businesses
• Capital Grant Aid to farmers to create suitable housing for  dairy calf rearing
• Initiatives that encourage adding value at farm level
• Diversification options to ensure that in the long term the resources of land, labour and capital are applied in a manner that will give the best return to the Northern Ireland economy

Mr Brennan went on to say, “We as an industry are calling on our Government to take action so that the Northern Ireland red meat industry can generate sustainable long term profitability for farmers and the wider meat industry. Political influence needs to be targeted and well informed influence needs to be brought to bear.

“We have the responsibility of delivering these important messages to government now – we cannot afford procrastination. Already the European Commission regulatory process has cost our industry. The Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association estimates that the delay in approving Herculex (a GMO Maize variety) has cost the NI agricultural industry £50m in one year. This along with the other issues needs to be addressed and political influence used to achieve results.”

The Task Force welcomes strongly the interest of the Assembly's Agricultural and Rural Development Committee in seeking to advance the interest of the industry and its focus on the Task Force report. Task Force members are committed to working with our politicians to seek solutions to industry problems.

The Red Meat Seminar hosted by the Agricultural Committee will allow for representatives across the industry to come together to debate a number of priorities raised by the Red Meat Task Force report which was launched in October 2007.

Ends

For media information contact Maria McLaughlin LMC Communications Manager Tel: 028 9263 3016 or email: mmclaughlin@lmcni.com

Notes to editors

Since last October the Task Force has continued with its communication strategy sharing the findings of the report with the UK industry. Meetings have been held within Northern Ireland, including a farmer Red Meat Task Force road show, discussions with the NI Assembly Agricultural Committee as well as individual appointments with the major retailers. The messages from the report have also been taken further afield to:

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs  

The Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland,

The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA),

National Farmers Union (NFU ) and

The Competition Commission