Ulster Farmers’ Union President Harry Sinclair has said any fraudulent activity in relation to agriculture should be taken seriously and has welcomed the ongoing police investigation into suspected illegal animal slaughter in Co Armagh.
UFU President Harry Sinclair said; “The UFU does not condone any fraudulent activity and we welcome the actions taken by the PSNI, the Department of Agriculture and the Food Standards Agency to investigate the suspected illegal animal slaughter. The investigation is still at an early stage so we do not have all the details yet but what angers farmers’ is that a few unscrupulous individuals may have put the reputation and integrity of Northern Ireland’s red meat industry at risk. Northern Ireland’s beef farmers have gone to great effort and expense to ensure they meet the EU’s strict animal health and welfare requirements and traceability standards, and almost all beef farmers in Northern Ireland participate in the NI Farm Quality Assurance Scheme. The UFU has repeatedly stressed that rural crime is a significant issue that need to be addressed with urgency and we are pleased to see action being taken.”
