Import meat scandal

Brian Glaves runs his own slaughterhouse and shop at Brompton, and he faxed me through four full pages from import agents offering foreign meat at very little money. Whilst we have no objection to competition, this one-sided battle is madness.

You would never ask a football side to play on one leg against Manchester United but that is the equivalent of what British farmers have to deal with at the moment.

As Brian said, somewhat ruefully: "Regarding any catering orders that are about, they are going to look hard and forget good English meat - the price is number one." Here are a few thoughts about the import situation:

- On the faxed offers sent to me there were products from 13 different countries which I list alphabetically: Africa, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Holland, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Uruguay.

Of the above, at least Africa and the South American countries have had problems with foot and mouth in the past. In fact, I heard a rumour that some of the Argentinean beef was destined for Russia but they wouldn't accept it because FMD was not fully cleared in that country.

- Conversely, the Meat and Livestock Commission forecast that imports from South American countries are expected to rise this year as restrictions on their own FMD problems are apparently lifted.

Over the three-year period between the Millennium and 2003, beef imports into the UK are forecast to rise by 50pc and by then we will be dependent on overseas supplies for over 40pc of our total consumption.

- We must question the checks that are put on disease in third countries more closely. At the beginning of last year, the UK was importing beef from Zimbabwe and this was not stopped until August when an "official" outbreak of FMD was discovered or admitted.

We are told that FMD is also endemic in many other African countries and yet we continue to take meat from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and many more. Certainly animal welfare rules and all the other regulations surrounding meat production are very differently enforced outside of our own shores; and these factors depress production costs to what are laughingly referred to as "world market prices".

I just do wonder what an Argentinean gaucho would make of our current biosecurity rules and all the associated expenditure that goes with them.

- The last and most frustrating point I make is that, as consumers, we have no idea what we are eating, unless of course it has come from Brian Glaves or one of our other splendid Ryedale retailers.

Most restaurants don't give any secrets away in the menu about the origin of their meat and, if asked where it came from, I like the Irishman's answer: "Where would you like it to come from, sir?"

We have got to press for proper labelling right through to the menu stage; and then we can make a choice. If we want to eat Brazilian rump then we can do so but, on the other hand, if we prefer to eat Yorkshire beef we should also have the right to choose.

I am sorry to have gone on a bit but it makes my blood boil when British farmers have to fight such an uphill battle without any understanding or assistance from Government.

There is a widespread fear amongst farmers in some parts of the country that TB amongst cattle is on the march and some have speculated about an epidemic in the wings.

Apart from the cases in north Wales which sparked off media interest, there have also been confirmed outbreaks in Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

Part of the problem is that the annual TB test that is done on cattle herds has been deferred due to FMD last year and there are over 25,000 cattle still in the backlog.

The other part of the problem is the conviction of many farmers that badgers with TB are spreading the disease. Test trials on the badger problem are under way but the results won't be out until 2005, by which time it may be too late; and there is an urgent call to cull the badger population.

Although I have a great affection for the old black and white brock, the current anti-TB campaign is unbalanced and ineffective if it only focuses on one species, namely cattle.

I listened to a lady on Radio 4 the other morning who suggested that every bovine animal should be tested for TB before it moved off the farm. If a similar amount of effort was put into the badger investigation then we would be making some headway.

The chairman of the Food Standards Agency, Sir John Krebs, announced last week that he had ordered a review of the stringent BSE rules that currently govern beef production in the UK.

The review is to investigate whether it is still necessary to ban cattle aged over 30 months from the food chain in order to protect public health.

Bearing in mind that the total disposal rate for 2002 is expected to be about 777,000 head, there seems to be a lot of sense in trying to get this amount of meat back onto our plates instead of paying for it out of taxes.

I hasten to add that we are the only country in Europe and, indeed, the world to prevent older cattle entering the food chain.

The Yorkshire auctioneers' plea for help has been heard in Whitehall and I have it on reasonable authority that as from May 15 we shall be able to hold auction sales in conjunction with the collection centre provided they are classed as slaughter points, which means that cattle cannot go back home from them.

This will widen our options and allow producers to send cattle in without triggering off the 20-day movement ban. There are also rumours that the infamous 20-day ban itself may be modified in one form or another and I will keep you posted.

Certainly, sales of store sheep seem to be looming on the horizon as a medium term prospect within the next month.

There are a few ridges and furrows in the livestock market world this week. On the plus side, the sheep trade has risen again as supermarkets swap over to new season lamb.

We had 2,225 fat sheep on Tuesday and the best lambs made up to 145p/kilo. The top lamb price was £63.50 from N Hall & Son. Hoggs were also better, all averaging well over 100p/kilo up to a top of 112.5p for the best close-wool types. Top price was achieved by John Hickes at £56.

There were just over 200 cull ewes which averaged £40/head up to a top of £50 from John Jacklin

Cattle numbers were steady and the trade was reflective of the beef situation to which I referred earlier in the column over the imports.

The best bulls from Roland Mason made up to 107p/kilo and the smartest heifer from T F W Morley was 121p/kilo.

Next week it will be bank holiday and we shall be selling as normal but starting cattle half an hour later to dovetail with York.

On the deadweight side, demand is patchy and prices have been a bit more variable. 'R' grade bulls are running from a bottom of 160p up to 170p and clean cattle will make 4-5p more.The best retail butcher cattle can still hit 190p/kilo.

Anyone wanting further information please contact the helplines at Malton on (01653) 697820/692151 and York on (01904) 489731.

Updated: 08:59 Thursday, May 02, 2002