Farmers critical of 'inadequate' red meat import checks

Farmers' leaders in Northern Ireland have criticised what they see as inadequate checks on imports of red meat and called for inspections to be tightened up.

The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) says that only one in 20 consignments of red meat from outside the European Union are checked at the border.

It wants the number of inspections increased. However, a spokesman for Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) rejected the UFU's criticism, saying that a number of consignments had been rejected this year.

The union says it obtained the statistics on border checks through a freedom of information request to DAERA.

It subsequently issued a statement to voice its concerns about the standard of beef arriving in Northern Ireland from countries outside the EU.

The union has recently called for a ban on imports of Brazilian beef - such a ban has been imposed by the United States - after concerns were raised about sub-standard meat.

The United States had previously rejected Brazilian beef shipments said to contain blood clots, lymph nodes and potentially harmful bacteria. UFU president Barclay Bell has called for a "full scale ban on Brazilian beef.

'Shortcomings'

After obtaining details on import checks in Northern Ireland, UFU deputy president Victor Chestnutt said there were 'shortcomings' in the checks at Belfast port.

He said more resources needed to be put into increasing the number of checks, given concerns about meat from countries outside the EU.

“Over 3,500 tonnes of frozen red meat came through Belfast port from outside Europe between January 2016 and May 2017," he said.

"Most was from New Zealand, Botswana and Australia. Yet just five per cent of containers were checked by the port authorities. It's worrying that our authorities have not increased inspections to ensure all meat complies with the requirements for entry into the EU,” he said.

The UFU has also called for better labelling laws to protect consumers. “One of the fundamental principles of country of origin labelling is that this is clearly displayed on packaging," said Victor Chestnutt.

"However, there is a major gap in the current legislation. These rules have less muscle when it comes to meat going into the catering trade or where loose products are sold in butchers’ shops,” he said.

The UFU deputy president said the union was concerned that this was the destination for much of the imported meat.

“This is an area we want the Food Standards Agency, DAERA and the Environmental Health Authorities to address,” he said.

'Always been transparent'

A spokesman for DAERA said he rejected the UFU's criticism. He said: "Belfast Border Inspection Post (BIP) has been EU approved since 1993, and has been the subject of multiple EU Food and Veterinary Office audits during the intervening period with ongoing full compliance.

"The default requirement is for all consignments (100 per cent) of products of animal origin (POAO) to be subject to documentary and identity checks. Physical checks are done on a risk basis.

"Sampling of consignments is conducted under and in accordance with the requirements of the UK National Monitoring Plan, and further sampling takes place where safeguard measures are in place in respect of particular public or animal health concerns," he said.

"Several consignments of POAO have been rejected at Northern Ireland BIPs to date in 2017 at the importers` expense due to failure to comply with import conditions, and such rejections are reported to the Commission.

"DAERA has always been transparent in this area and in June 2016, it hosted a visit by members of the UFU to Belfast Port during which import controls where explained and detail on relevant consignments provided.

"The Department made it clear then that it implements rigorous and robust controls on consignments of products of animal origin; this work supports the ongoing capability and aspirations of the industry in being able to export local produce around the world from a disease free region. This remains the case to this day."

The Food Standards Agency issued a statement to FarmingUK saying simply: "The FSA work together with and support DAERA to ensure the implementation of official controls in Northern Ireland.

"DAERA is responsible for import checks on red meat and so we refer you to their response on this matter."

Brazilian beef

Barclay Bell recently welcomed the decision by the United States to ban Brazilian beef.

The US Department of Agriculture said beef imports from the South American country had been found to contain abscesses, unidentified foreign material and 'ingesta', which could include any food, drink or medicine that cattle consume.

It has been reported that consignments of beef had also been missing shipping marks and had labelling problems on containers.

Barclay Bell said he was concerned that the European Union had not imposed the same sanctions as the US and he said he wanted to see talks on a free trade deal between the EU and South America halted. “It is wrong that the European Commission is pressing ahead with attempts to secure a free trade deal with the Mercosur countries of South America when there is such a big question mark over the fitness of one of the key players to export food.

"We agree with other farm lobby organisations that these talks should be delayed until that is resolved.

"We know Commission veterinary officials have visited Brazil, and the Commission is suggesting the problems found can be resolved," he said.

"We would like to see their report in full, so that we can decide whether this is an effective approach. If the Commission will not make that report public, I would urge MEPs to press for its release.”

The UFU president said that nothing that had emerged from the Commission or in Brazil had altered his view that a full scale ban on imports of Brazilian beef to Europe should be implemented immediately.