Brussels

UFU in Brussels for Sheep meetings

Representatives from the Ulster Farmers’ Union travelled to Brussels recently to attend the International Sheepmeat Forum and the COPA and Commission Advisory meeting on sheepmeat. Ulster Farmers’ Union Beef and Lamb Chairman Robert Davidson described the International Sheepmeat Forum as informative saying; “It is always useful to meet up with our UK and EU counterparts. Many countries are grappling with the same issues we are such as profitability, an aging population, and competition for land. One of the main challenges across the board at the moment is trying to attract young people to the sheep industry. Profitability remains a significant barrier as many young people struggle to see how they can make a living rearing sheepmeat. Processors and supermarkets would do well to remember it is in their interest for producers to be profitable and that failing to help attract young people to the industry will be to their detriment as well.”
 
Ulster Farmers’ Union Hill Farming Chairman John Sheridan, who also attended the International Sheepmeat Forum, said; “It is encouraging that there are new markets emerging that we could be taking advantage of. There is a growing demand for sheepmeat globally, especially in China, and we need to be sure that we do not allow trade barriers to hinder such opportunities. Discussions at the meeting also centred around the need to balance global supply and demand so markets aren’t flooded, potentially driving farm gate prices down, and the need for better communication, particularly with our New Zealand counterparts.”
 
Policy Officer Gill Gallagher attended the COPA and Commission Advisory meetings on sheepmeat.  Issues discussed included: the current market situation; CAP Post-2013; promotion; trade and of course sheep EID.  
 
Following the meeting Gill Gallagher said; “The UFU has welcomed the news that EU legislation has been amended to allow for funding for the generic promotion of sheepmeat and we hope that this will aid in increasing consumption and ultimately help improve producer profitability. Also, the UFU continue to push the EU Commission for an amendment to the EU legislation on sheep EID to allow for more tolerance and to request that sheep do not need to be tagged until they leave the holding of birth. Currently, the EU law requires that all sheep must be tagged by nine months even if they do not move off the holding of birth and cause no disease spread risk. The current regulation has led to problems with lost tags, animal welfare concerns and cross compliance penalties which is why the UFU continues to lobby the Commission on this very important issue.”