November 20th, 2014

ICSA beef chairman Edmond Phelan has welcomed the news that the EU Agriculture Committee is currently drawing up evidence to confirm that a cartel does exist in the Irish meat processing sector.

“Despite various denials, there is a firm belief among farmers that meat processors are operating a cartel, and ICSA welcomes the efforts by MEPs Matt Carthy and Marian Harkin to provide conclusive evidence to this effect,” said Mr. Phelan.
“The similarity in quotes across the range of factories on a given day, the dominance of the ‘big three’ and the lack of transparency in relation to the ‘fifth quarter’ have all contributed to farmers’ suspicions that a cartel exists, and it is high time this was investigated.”

“The control of rendering and, increasingly, feedlots must also be examined.”