Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 15: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps he is taking to enhance the live cattle trade to Britain; the numbers exported in 2009; the reason this was proportionately smaller than the increase to other destinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16858/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Live exports continue to be an important outlet for Irish cattle, providing an essential element of competition with the beef trade. Following the abolition of Export Refunds on live animals, other than for breeding, this trade is now almost exclusively with other EU Member States. Live cattle exports surged to over 286,000 head in 2009 – almost double the level recorded in 2008. The main reasons for the resurgence in this trade were stronger calf exports to the Netherlands, greater feedlot demand in Spain and Italy along with a sharp rise in finished cattle exports to Northern Ireland and Great Britain. As the Deputy is aware from my reply to PQ 11805/10 on 11 March, overall exports of live cattle from Ireland in 2009 increased by 94% on 2008 levels with those to Great Britain increasing by 440% - the highest percentage increase to any destination.

As part of its remit to enhance the value of the beef and livestock industry generally, Bord Bia continues to work closely with the trade in providing current information and developing market opportunities for live cattle exports to Great Britain and elsewhere. It has, for example, carried out a survey of small- to medium-sized abattoirs which represent approximately 30% of UK throughput. This exercise yielded valuable information about which plants are already slaughtering Irish-born animals and those that would be willing to do so. An encouraging aspect of the survey results is that the majority of respondents have a positive attitude to processing Irish cattle.

Nevertheless, there are a number of commercial issues in relation to labelling and marketing that continue to affect the live trade to Great Britain. Firstly, the labelling of beef is governed by comprehensive EU regulations introduced in 2000, which prevent final retailers from describing product born in Ireland but finished in Britain as either British or Irish. This product would need, rather, to be labelled with the country of birth (Ireland), the country of rearing (Ireland and UK) and the country of slaughter (UK). Some retailers view these requirements as potentially confusing or ambiguous to British consumers.

Secondly, the British Quality Assurance Standard (Red Tractor), an independently operated Quality Assurance Scheme, is based largely on country of birth and residence. To qualify for the Red Tractor, animals must have been born in the UK and have resided on an approved farm for at least the final 90 days before slaughter. This condition excludes Irish-born animals from the standard which is the most widely used quality assurance mark amongst British retailers.

Despite these challenges, the UK remains our largest single market for live cattle and I can assure the Deputy that the strong performance of Irish live exports last year has continued into the current year. In the period up to 10 April 2010, overall live exports are already over 55% ahead of the levels achieved during the same period in 2009. Again exports to Great Britain have performed very strongly and are significantly above those to other destinations, increasing by 176%, while those to Northern Ireland are up by 82% and those to other destinations by almost by 47%.