Mercosur deal could impact NI – Muir

The trade deal between the EU and the Mercosur trade block in South America could have implications for the NI meat sector, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has said.

The proposed deal allows 99,000 tonnes of beef from Mercosur to enter the EU at a 7.5% duty. It also allows for 180,000 tonnes of tariff free poultry meat.

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The long-running trade talks have been opposed by EU farmers and several member states.

On Wednesday, a razor thin majority in the European Parliament voted to delay the trade deal by referring it to the European Court of Justice for a legal opinion.

In response to a written question from DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen, Minister Muir said he understood the concerns about the trade deal which have been raised by farmers.

“An increase in imports into the EU can impact on the NI meat sector via increased competition for the domestic consumer market and by displacement of NI beef or poultry exports from the EU market,” Minister Muir said.

Bord Bia chair under fire over beef

The chairman of the body that promotes Irish food, known as Bord Bia, is facing calls to resign after it emerged his company imported Brazilian beef.

Larry Murrin has been chair of Bord Bia since 2024 and is chief executive of Dawn Farm Foods, a company that supplies pre-cooked meals and protein products to food service outlets.

Irish Farmers’ Association president Francie Gorman, who sits on the Bord Bia board, said he had spoken to Murrin to express his “grave concerns” about the situation. “Farmers participate in the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme and they have to meet exhaustive and stringent requirements. Without farmer confidence, Bord Bia cannot do its job,” Gorman said.

An emergency meeting of Bord Bia’s board has been arranged for today (Thursday) to discuss the fall out. Read the latest updates on www.farmersjournal.ie

TCZ cattle permit warning for farmers

Farmers within the Temporary Control Zone for bluetongue are being reminded that MC2 movement permits are not needed when a DAERA licence is being used for high-risk animals.

In a members’ update, the Ulster Farmers’ Union said confusion around movement permits and the licencing system is causing disruption at livestock marts. The issue surrounds DAERA’s livestock database (NIFAIS), which automatically causes a “market standstill” if an ordinary MC2 permit is used for a high-risk movement. If the problem occurs, DAERA staff can rectify it, but it takes time and can lead to animals being turned away from marts if it happens at evening or weekend sales.