The Sinn Féin MEP for the Midlands North West added that the current demands of processors create an environment where farmers are vulnerable to price manipulation and market abuse.

He said: “Ongoing issues such as those around the labelling of meat and weight demands from processors threaten the future of the Irish beef industry. Many farmers, unable to secure a fair price for their produce, will simply be faced with no other option than to leave the industry.”

Carthy also said that European Commission data shows that Ireland already has below average carcase weights in comparison with Britain, Italy, France and Germany.

Labelling

He urged both Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and his NI counterpart Michelle O’Neill to meet with representatives of farm organisations, marts, processors and retailers to address the impact the latest demands are having on farmers, as well as the outstanding issues regarding the labelling of meat.

He described the issue of labelling as having “created obstacles for trade on the island of Ireland”. He said that although “an all-island label would not address this issue exclusively in the short term, an all-island label is another move towards quality assurance”.

The MEP claimed that “Irish meat is being used to subsidise the British market” as supermarkets in Britain sell Irish and English meat products for the same price – despite a clear difference in the price being paid to farmers.

“It is in the best interest of farmers to instigate a meeting in the next few weeks,” Carthy said.

the imposition of 20c/kg price cuts for marginally overweight and overage cattle will undermine the suckler cow herd.