Ireland is to demand the removal of new unilateral restrictions imposed by Spanish authorities on the slaughter of imported cattle. The Spanish have introduced regulations on the removal of so-called Specified Risk Materials from animals, which go far beyond the regulations of any other EU state. They could jeopardise a growing trade in young animals between Ireland and Spain, which last year saw the export of 75,000 cattle from here.
The move is seen in Ireland by both the Department of Agriculture and Food and the farming organisations as a trade protection measure. Mr Raymond O'Malley, chairman of the Irish Farmers Association National Livestock Committee, said he had been assured by the European Commission that it will demand the removal of the restrictions.
He claims the Spanish action is unworkable anyway, as most slaughtering plants in Spain do not have the necessary technology to implement the regulations.
Figures for Ireland's 1998 beef exports were published by An Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board) this week, sourced from the Central Statistics Office. They showed Irish beef exports had increased by almost eight per cent from 1997, to 507,000 tonnes.
The Food Board said the main reason for this increase was a rise of 45 per cent in exports to Continental Europe in 1998, to 129,000 tonnes.
The greatest increases last year were achieved in France, Italy and Holland, but exports to non-EU markets also rose by five per cent to 294,000 tonnes.
Exports to France rose by 40 per cent to over 35,000 tonnes, Italy by 35 per cent to 27,000 tonnes, Holland by 50 per cent to 25,000 tonnes, and Scandanavia by 10 per cent to 23,000 tonnes.
However, there was an 18 per cent drop in Irish beef exports to the UK, because some leading retailers will stock only British beef. Estimated exports stood at 85,000 tonnes.
Exports to international markets rose by five per cent to 294,000 tonnes, with Egypt taking 120,000 tonnes - a 50 per cent increase. But there was a 20 per cent drop in Russian sales, which stood at 57,000 tonnes.