IRISH farmers are being smeared by those who claim they are responsible for the BSE crisis, the president of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), Mr John Donnelly, told the association's a.g.m. yesterday.
Mr Donnelly said there was an insidious campaign portraying farmers as highly irresponsible and having caused the BSE crisis. "I totally reject the standard political solution - `round up the usual suspects' - which has been used to smear farmers."
He said that in the vast bulk of cases farmers had bought their feed from compounders in good faith and totally unaware of the inclusion of meat and bonemeal.
"Where are these compounders now? Indeed, where are the Government inspectors with the knowledge of the lethal damage this produce could inflict on the industry? I put the question to the Minister today: did they do their job?"
He said rigorous surveillance and severe penalties had to be used to deter any farmer who might seek to exploit a commercial advantage in the use of meat and bonemeal.
Mr Donnelly said that during 1996 farmers and the food industry were subject to intense consumer scrutiny.
"In response, IFA gave a strong lead, first of all in recognising the legitimate rights of consumers of Irish food to the highest international safety standards. Secondly, in sending the strongest possible signals to farmers and food producers that only the highest safety standards are acceptable."