We welcome apparent progress on labelling moves to aid the hugely important trade of cattle between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

However, as with all matters involving powerful retailers and processors, we await full details and hope that the proposed new label will not be used to further segregate the beef market – ultimately at farmers’ expense.

The best long-term solution for farmers is probably a British and Irish label that prevents processors from dividing what should be one market into three – at the expense of farmers on either side of the Irish Sea.