IFA anger at Bord Bia PGI application

The IFA has expressed dismay at the detail contained within Bord Bia’s proposed application for PGI status for Irish Grass Fed beef.

IFA President Tim Cullinan said that he was astounded to see that Bord Bia had seemingly rowed back on “commitments” given to the farm representative organisation to treat “all categories of animal” the same.

“They have banned all young bulls and other categories of animals even if they meet the grass-fed criteria. They also appear to have removed the latitude for animals to be indoors for longer in certain circumstances.

This may well arise in some years in parts of the country where animals have to be housed earlier due to weather conditions,” he said.

Mr Cullinan says that the change has come “completely out of the blue”, including a new “transport aspect” which he said appears to suggest that animals must go to a factory less than two hours away and that a licensed haulier must transport them.

“This is completely unacceptable,” continued Mr Cullinan.

“The animal’s meat now has to be ‘a more pronounced cherry red’ with ‘creaminess’ and this new ‘colour criteria’ is to be ruled on by a ‘Quality Control Inspector’ for the meat processor.

The last thing we need in factories is a new layer of graders to rule on meat colour and ‘creaminess’,” reports Mr Cullinan from the Bord Bia document, who states that when PGI was raised at the recent Beef Taskforce, it was clear it was a subject which needed “a lot more discussion.

The only party that was completely in favour of Bord Bia’s concept was Meat Industry Ireland,” said Mr Cullinan.

“The detail behind this proposal has been driven by MII and the factories. It is trying to give them even more control over farmers,” said the IFA Chief

“As far as I am concerned, farmers must be at the heart of this process. Any benefit in the market place must accrue to farmers as we are the ones who are creating the value by grass feeding our animals,” he said.

“I am seeking a meeting with Minister to discuss this whole PGI issue. Based on the current proposal, it’s likely to do more harm than good for farmers.”