British Beef has a great future say farmers

Beef farmers in the East Midlands have welcomed the Defra announcement that the Over Thirty Month Scheme (OTMS) will end on 7 November. The scheme, introduced in 1996, prevented meat from animals over the age of 30 months from entering the human food chain.

Now, nearly ten years later, farmers will be able to sell animals born after 1 August 1996 into the beef market. These animals will be subjected to strict BSE testing and the usual requirements to remove Specified Risk Material (including the spinal column) will continue.

NFU's regional director in the East Midlands, Jack Ward said: "Defra's decision is good news for the British beef industry. It means that for the first time in almost a decade British consumers will be able to purchase a full range of quality beef products. The NFU looks forward to the European Commission following Defra's lead and lifting all export restrictions on British beef."

"Beef production in England and Wales has enormous potential," added Jack Ward. "We have the right climate to produce grass, and we have the right skills, assurance standards and infrastructure to make sure that the whole of the supply chain can be efficient and profitable. However, to realise this potential, beef producers need clear market signals to give them confidence in the future viability of beef production."

NFU has been in discussion with major caterers and food service providers about the additional British beef that will become available once the OTMS scheme is lifted. With the shortage of manufacturing beef across the EU, NFU would expect demand to be good and prices to rise.

Jack Ward added: "We have no doubt whatsoever that there is a positive outlook for beef production in this country. However, the current producer price for beef is not sustainable. We need a more realistic price and we need positive signals from the market place that provide some confidence for producers, so that our farmers can go on producing the best and safest beef in the world."