While Irish supermarkets were forthcoming with their specification requirements in the Power report (see Table 1), large retail and non-retail UK customers of Irish beef would not go on the record individually.

Because of this, the report had to present a combined finding that covered all of them.

While there were some minor variations, it was clear from all of the retail and non-retail customers in the UK and Ireland that there was an age requirement of mainly under-30-months cattle, with Lidl (Ireland) and Dunnes accepting up to 36 months.

This means in the main 90-day residency on the last farm and maximum of four farm residencies

In the UK, the Red Tractor scheme sets the standard that Irish suppliers have to follow.

This means in the main 90-day residency on the last farm and maximum of four farm residencies.

Thirty months is the limit for retail customers in the UK, and 16 months in the case of young bulls, with non-retail not having an age limit.

Power concluded that “beef market requirements are going up rather than down”, meaning specifications are here to stay.