The Department of Agriculture has made some changes to the Irish Grass Fed Beef proposal for protected geographical indication (PGI) status.

The altered document was circulated at Wednesday’s meeting of the Beef Market Taskforce.

In particular, the language relating to transportation of cattle to beef plants and proximity of beef plants, the subject of criticism from the IFA, has been adjusted.

There now is an acknowledgement that farmers often transport their own cattle, and the implication drawn by some that farmers could only deal with plants within a defined proximity of their farm no longer exists. The inclusion of bull beef has not been addressed, nor is there any move to restrict the PGI to suckler breeds, as some have called for.

Whether the changes will quell the opposition from farmers remains to be seen.

Twenty-two submissions of opposition to the proposal were lodged.

These include submissions from the ICSA and INHFA, which hold that the application is too broad and lacked sufficient farmer consultation.

IFA and ICMSA both met with the Department of Agriculture last week in relation to the PGI application.

“What should be a positive development for the sector has become mired in controversy due to a lack of consultation on the original application,” said IFA president Tim Cullinan. “We have been in contact with the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) who are concerned about the application proceeding without Northern Ireland farmers. It is important, particularly in the context of Brexit, that we don’t create any unintended barriers to the movement of animals across the border.”

Problems

IFA livestock chair Brendan Golden said: “There is no reason why we can’t resolve the problems around the PGI application. It could assist market access, particularly in higher-value markets.”

ICMSA president Pat McCormack warned: “We are in very real danger of turning a potential positive for Irish beef into a certain negative. Aspects of the document should be amended, including the eligible grades for cows. Both Bord Bia and the Department have assured us that there will be no new conditions placed on farmers.