Hope for improved beef prices thanks to buoyant market
UK - Ed Rees, Chairman of NFU Cymru’s Livestock Board has delivered an upbeat message on the future of British beef to NFU Cymru members in Montgomeryshire.
10 October 2006
2 minute read
Speaking at a recent county meeting, held at Plas Dolerw, Newtown Ed Rees said, “The fundamentals of the British beef market remain strong and with demand across Europe for beef buoyant there is a real opportunity in the coming months to maintain and improve beef prices to levels which much better reflect our true costs of production.”
“At the same time, we must pull out all the stops to ensure that beef and beef products that are imported into Europe are produced to the same high level of standards and traceability as those applied within Europe.”
“Throughout the summer months the NFU branches across the UK have been very active in stressing to the EU Commission that it must do more to prevent third country beef imports entering the European market, which are unable to demonstrate the same high level of standards and traceability as those applied within Europe.” said Ed Rees.
“This extensive lobbying by the NFU branches across the UK has this week led to European Commissioner Kyprianou (Health & Consumer Protection) announcing a visit to Brazil in October to make a personal assessment of the standards of production. The NFU has continually expressed concern over this issue which, of course, resulted at one point earlier this year with the Union successfully persuading ASDA to remove sub-standard Brazilian beef from its shelves.” he added.
Michael Jones, NFU Cymru County Chairman for Montgomeryshire said, “The beef industry is a particularly important component of the Gross National Product of Welsh agriculture, contributing almost one third to output. The members present at the meeting were pleased to hear Ed Rees deliver a positive message on the fundamentals of the beef market.”
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