Northern Ireland-Big problems in the Meat Industry.

NORTHERN IRELAND.

400 JOBS AT RISK IN MEAT INDUSTRY.

Cookstown Meats are seeking 12.5 million pounds in a government rescue package, by way of compensation for losses incurred by the major pork re-call in Ireland.

The company had its products taken from supermarket shelves in December, along with other pork processors from the South of Ireland.

Producers north of the border are at a disadvantage compared with their counterparts in the south, according to Seamus Carr, the managing director of the company.

Mr Carr said the industry here wants 2 million pounds, for a product that had to be dumped.

There is the very serious risk of the loss of 400 jobs in the meat industry unless there is immediate action according to the meat processor.

The province has the added problem of the 7,000 cattle that have to be disposed of for eating contaminated cattle feed.