As the lambing season commences throughout the county of Brecon and Radnor, NFU Cymru members are calling for retailers to back Welsh farmers by ensuring clearly labelled PGI Welsh Lamb is readily on the shelves throughout the coming season.
At a recent county meeting held in the NFU Cymru headquarters on the Royal Welsh Showground, Colin Millichap, NFU Cymru Brecon and Radnor Chairman said: “We live in one of the most densely livestock populated counties in the UK and we produce high quality, grass-fed lambs, bred to the highest possible animal health and welfare standards.
“Farmers want a commitment from UK retailers that when this season’s lambs come onto the market from May onwards that PGI Welsh Lamb is given pride of place on supermarket shelves.
“The NFU Cymru Back Welsh Farming campaign was well received last year and gave consumers the opportunity to sample different lamb dishes.
“This cemented the Union’s view that new product development is needed in order to move with changing consumer eating trends, which in turn will result in an increase in lamb consumption.”
John Davies, NFU Cymru Deputy President also provided an update following the recent EU Sheep Reflection Group meeting in Brussels, where he represented the UK sheep industry.
He said, “High on the group’s agenda is New Zealand lamb imports, the appropriateness of a historic EU import quota and the timing of New Zealand imports to the EU.
“New Zealand has supplied lamb to both the UK and Europe for many years, but at times of the year when less UK lamb was on the market.
“Unfortunately this is no longer the case and more and more containers of chilled New Zealand lamb are hitting the UK market at peak season for UK lamb (from May to January).
“This influx of New Zealand lamb is becoming an increasing problem for the UK sheep industry and the group needs to consider whether the terms and conditions of the import quota remain fit for purpose.”
Colin Millichap concluded: “The response we received during the Back Welsh Farming campaign was so positive, I would like to thank consumers for their continued support, as farmers we take great pride in providing safe food produced to the highest standards.
“I would like to remind consumers to check logos and labels on their purchases, both online and in store, to ensure they don’t get caught out by poor labelling practices.”
