ICSA president Dermot Kelleher has said he is horrified by Bord Bia proposed recommendations that quality assured (QA) cattle farmers should only buy livestock from other certified QA farms. “This is potentially a matter for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to investigate whether this is a breach of competition law being proposed by a state agency. This is essentially barring access to the market for sellers, and it is restricting the choice of stock available to buyers. We recall that the CCPC was not shy in getting involved when poor prices were discussed at meetings such as the Beef Forum to ensure that the state kept out of market related business,” he said. 

“This is a case of Bord Bia seriously overstepping the mark and it follows a worrying pattern of state agencies regularly overstepping the mark to the point that they are not only losing the dressing room, but their pontificating is generating massive alienation amongst cattle farmers. These agencies are seen as trying to control farmers and it has gone too far at this stage.

Suckler farmers are telling me that they are sick and tired of having their business interfered with for reasons which they are dubious about. Some have even gone so far as to say the state wants to get them to give up so that climate targets will be easier to meet.” 

“It is well known that best markets for weanlings are live exports, or weanlings that have potential for fatstock sales, or fancy weanling heifers with future breeding potential. None of these markets require QA and it is extremely disappointing that Bord Bia would seek to create a two-tier market for livestock and devalue one particular cohort in the process.”

Mr Kelleher pointed out that ICSA was not on the Bord Bia board or committees so he emphasised that ICSA has no hand, act or part in these discussions and would vigorously oppose them.

ENDS