The INHFA has nothing to hide and has officially lodged an opposition to the current PGI status application for Irish grass-fed beef, Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) president Colm O’Donnell told the Irish Farmers Journal on Monday.
Friday 11 September was the deadline to submit a reasoned statement of opposition to the PGI application.
O’Donnell said: “We were left with no choice in the matter because of the lack of consultation and debate on the application.
“Suckler farmers see this grass-fed PGI as a threat to their naturally-reared product and as being driven by processors and the dairy industry."
Beef taskforce
The president has called for a resolution to the dispute to be found at the next sitting of the beef taskforce.
O’Donnell continued: “Department officials suggested the taskforce will reconvene on Wednesday 23 September, but this has yet to be confirmed in writing.
“The development of a suckler brand will be virtually impossible to deliver from within the taskforce if the vast majority of Irish beef comes under the PGI. This must now become a top priority to preserve taskforce integrity."
The INHFA has said the taskforce is in danger of reneging on its commitment to the development proposition of a suckler brand.
The farm body stressed the need for a marketing campaign to highlight and develop the suckler beef brand and for €4m to be made available to Bord Bia to develop the campaign.
