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"It is deeply regrettable that at this time of great pressure on farmers, we learned last week that a sizeable quantity of beef has been imported into the UK from Poland," Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has said.
Minister Poots said he has raised concerns with the the main supermarket chains after recent reports that a significant shipment of beef was imported into the UK from Poland.
Support for farmers
During a call to the Secretary of State, George Eustice, Ministers from the other devolved administrations and the main supermarkets, Minister Poots said: “Our local farming industry is working hard to ensure we keep food on our tables in the most challenging of circumstances and we must do all we can to support them and to ensure that we have a profitable and sustainable beef sector in the future.
“We’ve been saying loudly that we are all in this battle together and we must fight COVID-19 together – now is the time for our actions to reflect our words.
“I am pleased to say that the retailers involved have assured me that they will make every effort to support our local food supply chain, our local farmers and families and encourage people to buy local,” the Minister added.
Shipment
Last week, chair of the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) beef and lamb committee Sam Chesney blasted Asda and Sainsbury’s for selling Polish mince in their British stores.
“We have been totally let down in a time of crisis. We are told by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that we are all in this together, yet some factories and retailers are going to Poland to get beef. It is very, very disappointing,” Chesney told the Irish Farmers Journal.
A spokesperson for ABP confirmed it had supplied Polish beef, but that it was a one off, short-term measure due to shortages of products in stores. ABP says it will return to supplying British and Irish beef in the future.
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