Irish farmers urge beef investigation

02-Sep-2019 - Last updated on 02-Sep-2019 at 16:08 GMT

As protests at beef processing facilities in Ireland continue, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has called for the government to establish a Commission of Investigation to examine margins along the supply chain.

IFA president Joe Healy that while the terms of reference would have to be agreed with farmers, the investigation should have full access to the books of the meat processors and be able to establish what they are paid for each part of the beef animal. “Full transparency on the price along the chain must be an essential element of the investigation,” he said.

Healy said if this was done alongside a price commitment from the factories and an assurance from Minister Creed to put a Brexit support scheme in place for all farmers who sold cattle after 12 May, it could provide a basis for a resolution to the current stalemate.

During talks conducted between processor trade body Meat Industry Ireland, the IFA and lobby group Beef Plan Movement, an investigation into prices along the supply chain was one area that was agreed upon by all parties.

Healy suggested that the Commission must also be able to verify if certain specifications are being demanded by retailer customers and if this justifies these being applied in respect of cattle prices. He said it should also look at what is going on with factory-controlled feed lots and how these are being used to manipulate cattle prices.

“The Commission must have the power to compel witnesses to appear and should also get access to financial information from processors and retailers to establish the profit margin they are making from beef.”

“A number of months ago, IFA engaged economist Jim Power to investigate some of these matters. While he has made a progress on many matters, it is clear that without being able to access financial data from the meat plants and retailers, it is not be possible to definitively determine what the processor and retail margins are,” he said. “With the statutory powers of a Commission of investigation, if the Government moved on this it should be able establish answers to these questions relatively quickly. Farmers are entitled to know the truth about who is making what from their cattle in the beef supply chain.”

He said the report of the Commission could form the basis of a new price transparency index which would provide on-going data on margins in the sector. “If we are to establish any trust between farmers, processors and retailers, this is a necessary first step,” he said.

Protests outside beef processing plants have continued with Irish broadcaster RTE reporting an arrest made at a plant in Co. Cavan, and a cancelled inspection visit by a Chinese delegation as part of an application to export lamb to China.