October 19, 2007

Irish agriculture minister urges EU to increase export refunds

Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan is proposing to the European Commission to increase export refunds for fresh and frozen pigmeat to help beleaguered farmers tide over the current crisis. 

Besides contacting the commissioner, she has also talked to EU member states before a management committee meeting in Brussels, Coughlan said at an Irish Farmers Association (IFA) briefing for Oireachtas members in Dublin yesterday.

IFA leader Padraig Walshe warned that the Irish pig industry wiped out wipe out by crippling feed costs if there is government inaction.

He also stressed that country-of-origin labelling must be extended to pigmeat as a matter of urgency. The IFA has often criticised that pork processors do not inform their customers where their pork comes from

IFA Pigs Committee chairman Michael Maguire said 7,000 jobs in the sector could be lost unless labelling is introduced.

Coughlan stressed earlier she is fully committed to provide consumers on the origin of pork and bacon at the point of purchase.