IRISH exporters of live animals to Egypt suspended operations yesterday in anticipation of an announcement of a ban later today on the trade, which was worth £180 million last year.
One of the State's leading exporters, Mr John Horgan, said while there was no official announcement of the ban yet it appeared that beef and cattle from Ireland, France, Switzerland and will be banned because of BSE levels.
Mr Horgan, who runs Horgan Livestock in Cork, said he was attempting to find out the basis of the ban, which may have been caused by a report in an Egyptian tabloid newspaper that "mad cows were being imported from Ireland".
He said a shipment of cattle, which was due to leave Cork yesterday had been suspended and none of the cattle had been loaded. His company would put its operations on hold until the situation became clearer.
"We have been locked out of Egypt before but we have a few cards to play yet. I would like to see the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, making direct contact with President Mubarak like he did back in April," he said.
He added that any ban would probably make some allowance for the three or four ships currently on their way to Egyptian ports. Because other European countries are involved, he would like to see Brussels making representations to Egypt over the ban.
A Commission spokesman in Brussels said last night it could see no justification for such a ban by the Egyptians. A Department of Agriculture spokesman said it was trying to establish what was going on in relation to the Egyptian market and the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, had been attempting to speak to his opposite number in Egypt, Dr Walli.
The spokesman said Mr Yates had been unable to make contact with Dr Walli but as far as the Department was concerned "no decree has yet been signed" and the market appeared to be open. The spokesman said that to the best of his knowledge Irish beef was unloaded in Egypt on Sunday.
Immediately before Christmas Mr Yates expressed serious concern about the market in Egypt and sent a top veterinary team headed by the Department's chief veterinary officer, Mr Pat Rogan, to reassure the Egyptians that Irish beef is safe.
Report of the proposed ban pushed the price of bullocks at markets yesterday down to just over 87p from 93p.
A European Parliament report has severely criticised the European Commission for its handling of the BSE crisis but stops short of recommending a vote of censure that would force the EU executive to resign, parliamentary sources said yesterday.
The report has uncovered strong evidence that the Commission put its concern to avoid a beef market collapse before its duty to protect consumers. The document also makes it clear that primary responsibility for the spread of the disease in Britain, the resulting EU ban on beef exports and the slump in consumption across Europe lies with the British government.