Commodity Watch
The Ulster Farmers’ Union have met with representatives from Pig Regen and Identigen this week to finalise an agreement for the DNA Testing of pork and pigmeat products. This will see the introduction of a DNA testing scheme which will be used to DNA test pig meat in Northern Ireland and allow the UFU to build a data base of all Northern Irish Boars. Through building a database of all boars that contribute to Northern Irish Pig meat production, it will then be possible to test Northern Irish pig meat, processed or unprocessed and confirm its Northern Irish origin through matching it back to its boar of origin. The aims of the scheme is to identify companies who are using imported pig meat which may not meet the animal health and welfare standards of Northern Ireland and expose those who are misleading consumers about the origin of their products. This is something which has been in operation within the Republic of Ireland for a few years now and by using this as a model, the UFU along with Pig Regen are progressing with plans to introduce a similar programme here in Northern Ireland.
It is thought that once the boar database has been established the scheme will take place in a number of steps:
Firstly, meat samples will be taken quarterly from retailers, secondary processors, butchers, hotels and the food service. These samples will then be tested against our DNA boar database in order to confirm whether they are of Northern Irish origin or not. Companies which are not using local pig meat will be actively encouraged by the UFU to use more local pig meat through outlining the benefits of supplying quality assured pork. It is hoped that negotiations may also take place with the companies involved in an attempt to come to an agreement to increase the percentage of local pigmeat used within a given time. This will also be the case for companies who are misleading consumers by claiming they use Northern Irish pork but are actually using imported pork.
Pig producers in Northern Ireland have always had concerns about the possible misrepresentation of pigmeat products by retailers and the food service sector. Through the implementation of DNA testing of pigmeat, NI consumers can be assured that locally identified and labelled pig products are indeed from pigs that have been born reared and slaughtered in Northern Ireland and that they have been produced to the highest welfare standards which producers are required to meet here. It is also felt that this scheme could be used in conjunction with the Ulster Pork and Bacon Forum’s new quality assurance label to ensure verification of Northern Irish pork products.
Now that the operational elements have been agreed, the UFU hopes to roll out this program as quickly as possible and will keep pig producers informed as progress is made.
