Department and industry at loggerheads on clean sheep policy

SERIOUS tensions have emerged between the Department of Agriculture and Meat Industry Ireland (MII) regarding the implementation of the clean livestock policy (CLP) for sheep.

MII said in a statement to the Farming Independent this week that it was “fully supportive of the sheep CLP” but the processor body called for the “steady implementation” of it in a “uniform manner across the sector”.

However, a spokesman for MII did not respond when asked if processors felt the initiative was not being implemented in a uniform manner.

Reports of tensions between MII and the Department follow the decision of Kepak Athleague to suspend processing for a time on Monday of last week.

MII stressed that it remained committed to the clean sheep policy which it described as “important for the entire sector”.

“MII has had several engagements in recent weeks with the Department of Agriculture on the implementation of the clean livestock policy (CLP) in the sheep sector,” MII stated. In reply to queries from the Farming Independent, the Department stated that the details of the CLP policy for sheep were “discussed and agreed by all stakeholders over the last two years”.

The Department stated it continues to engage on this important public health measure. “Results in general are very encouraging, notwithstanding some few tensions and requests for further clarification/information — which is not unexpected with the introduction of new practices which require changes in behaviour,” it stated. “The Department continues to work with all stakeholders in ‘normalising’ this new policy, in particular on seeking a common industry approach in respect of remediation measures necessary.”

It maintained: “The vast majority of producers and processors have engaged very positively with the CLP”.

It claimed that 93pc of sheep presented were in compliance with the CLP requirements.

This was accepted by MII who said “significant progress” had been made on the standard of animals being presented at plants.

However, there have been reports of serious disruptions at some sheep plants, with more than 3,500 ‘dirty’ sheep being rejected for slaughter in the past week.

John Brooks of ICSA claimed the initiative was “causing havoc in the factories” and farmers were holding back supplying lambs because of the uncertainty.

The IFA’s Sean Dennehy claimed there was a “complete lack of consistency” in the way Department personnel were implementing it.