The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) and other stakeholders are to meet with Department of Agriculture officials on Thursday afternoon to discuss the live export trade with Northern Ireland.
It comes as farmers, marts and exporters voiced anger over the ban on breeding stock and store cattle moving across the border as a result of the bluetongue restrictions.
ICOS livestock and environmental services executive Ray Doyle told the Irish Farmers Journal that it is vital that the trade is resumed.
“Northern Ireland has it in its gift to resume the trade, but will not do it without the green light from Kildare Street,” he said.
Restoration
He called for the immediate restoration of the full live export trade, adding that there is no point in waiting until July when the disease is reclassified in its risk level.
In July, the virus will be reclassified under EU animal health law, meaning that measures will not need to be implemented to prevent it spreading to parts of the EU.
Since Ireland lost its bluetongue-free status last month with the detection of the first case in Wexford, only animals going for direct slaughter can move across the border.
The restriction has frustrated farmers and exporters, with one exporter telling the Irish Farmers Journal that the ban has ground 60% of his business to a halt.
Read more
Fury over live export ban to NI
Bluetongue brings 60% of exporter's business to a halt
Explainer: everything we know about bluetongue in Ireland so far
The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) and other stakeholders are to meet with Department of Agriculture officials on Thursday afternoon to discuss the live export trade with Northern Ireland.
It comes as farmers, marts and exporters voiced anger over the ban on breeding stock and store cattle moving across the border as a result of the bluetongue restrictions.
ICOS livestock and environmental services executive Ray Doyle told the Irish Farmers Journal that it is vital that the trade is resumed.
“Northern Ireland has it in its gift to resume the trade, but will not do it without the green light from Kildare Street,” he said.
Restoration
He called for the immediate restoration of the full live export trade, adding that there is no point in waiting until July when the disease is reclassified in its risk level.
In July, the virus will be reclassified under EU animal health law, meaning that measures will not need to be implemented to prevent it spreading to parts of the EU.
Since Ireland lost its bluetongue-free status last month with the detection of the first case in Wexford, only animals going for direct slaughter can move across the border.
The restriction has frustrated farmers and exporters, with one exporter telling the Irish Farmers Journal that the ban has ground 60% of his business to a halt.
Read more
Fury over live export ban to NI
Bluetongue brings 60% of exporter's business to a halt
Explainer: everything we know about bluetongue in Ireland so far
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