Meat factories have defended the carcase trim inspection process, describing it as a comprehensive inspection regime.

Revelations earlier this month showed that several factories had been fined for excessive carcase trim – prompting farmer anger across the country and calls for greater transparency from factories.

In total, 19 penalties were applied to factories this year for excessive carcase trimming and it has been further revealed that there have been a total of 47 penalties for excessive carase trim over the last three years.

"Some 47 penalties have applied in total, which amounts to an issue on just 0.03% of carcases inspected," Meat Industry Ireland (MII) stated.

"By any measure, this is a tiny quantity and clearly demonstrates that carcase dressing standards are being properly applied across the board.

"Claims to the contrary are simply incorrect. Even in the isolated incidents where a penalty is applied by DAFM, the actual weight of over trim in most cases would be no more than a kilo.”

Inspection regime

In response, MII has said that it is stepping up its inspection regime and implementing official monitoring on a daily basis in every plant by Department of Agriculture officials.

According to MII, this is a "more intensive regime than operates in any other EU member state”.

It also said that it had engaged with the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed on 4 December and agreed to introduce payments for farmers who had been affected by excessive carcase trim.

"Such payment will be identified on the payment remittance docket, so that farmers will also be aware of the penalty,” the MII said.

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