Are Beef Importers Putting Pressure on UK Prices?
UK - Supermarket chiefs, burger manufacturers and catering chains must ask themselves whether their attitude to imports is fundamentally damaging the structure of the UK beef industry and undermining the security of future domestic supplies, the National Beef Association said on Tuesday.
11 July 2007
1 minute read
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NBA chairman Duff Burrell
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It accepts that with the UK only 75 per cent self-sufficient in beef around 250,000 tonnes must be imported each year to balance supplies and maintain consumption.
“But the philosophy and strategy behind the purchase of imports is of primary importance to the ability of UK farmers to continue to deliver beef in the quantity and quality currently required of them,” explained Association chairman Duff Burrell.
“Are the multiples importing beef only to top up their requirement for popular cuts like steak simply because there are not enough of these available in the UK”?
“Or are they, and others, using imports as a tactical tool to reduce the cost of their purchases from UK based processors and to force down the price of UK cattle to levels that are much lower than they otherwise would be?”
According to the NBA it is impossible to argue against imports that are used to top up, and balance, domestic deliveries against seasonal shifts and surges in consumer demand – as long as their production provenance matches UK standards.
Source: Stackyard
