Ireland will host the next World Meat Congress in spring 1999, it was announced yesterday in Birr. The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, said Bord Bia had been awarded the congress on behalf of the International Meat Secretariat. It followed an intensive marketing campaign to promote the attractiveness and capacity of Ireland and Bord Bia to organise the event.
He said the World Meat Congress was the most prestigious conference of its kind. This year's conference was held in Beijing, China, and was attended by some 600 delegates from 35 countries. Previous congresses in Denver, US, and Sydney, Australia, had attracted similar numbers.
There was more good news for the industry yesterday when Mr Walsh said beef consumption in the State was back to pre-BSE levels. Bord Bia also announced that the retail sales volume of beef in the State was up nearly 9 per cent on the same period last year, according to independent research.
The research showed that market value was up 12 per cent to just under £8 million, while the number of households buying beef during August was up 13.2 per cent on the same period last year.