A BEEF quality assurance scheme is vital to restoring consumer confidence, but proper certification and testing procedures are essential and have yet to be finalised, the IFA president, Mr John Donnelly, has said. While the IFA welcomed the scheme announced by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Donnelly said, considerable detail needed to be worked out to ensure its effectiveness.
In discussions between all sections of the industry since last June, the IFA had pressed for computerisation of the national cattle herd to monitor all animal movements, full declaration of feed ingredients and full sampling and testing at the point of slaughter to guarantee meat safety.
"Considerable further work is required by the Department of Agriculture before the IFA can be satisfied that these three requirements for the successful operation of a proper food safety scheme are in place," Mr Donnelly said.
In particular, the Department had yet to specify all the testing procedures required. "A proper scheme has a vital role to play in restoring consumer confidence at home and abroad and would demonstrate the commitment of the industry to implementing the highest international standards."
The ICMSA welcomed the scheme in principle but was disappointed it was launched without final details being agreed. An efficient and cost effective scheme with adequate sampling and testing was required to ensure farmer and processor could "keep ahead of the competition", its president, Mr Frank Allen, said. The scheme was also welcomed by the president of Macra na Feirme, Mr Tommy McGuire.
New standards will be announced this summer while computer systems in marts, meat plants and the Department of Agriculture will be upgraded and expanded by the autumn. Farm certification and a new animal movement system will be introduced in October, followed by a complete cattle census to be undertaken in December.
