No-deal tariffs on dairy and beef proposed by the UK could devastate Irish farming post-Brexit, according to leading industry figures.

Cormac Healy of Meat Industry Ireland (MII) said that tariffs of up to €222m/year could be applied on manufacturing beef, while Conor Mulvihill of Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) outlined how cheddar faced a tariff rate of €20m/year.

The UK takes over half of Irish beef and is the largest consumer market for cheddar. The slim profit margins on Irish poultry and pigs could also be hard hit.

Although the UK proposal allows for tariff-free trade across the Irish border, DII criticised the UK government for not clarifying border arrangements for milk producers. It pointed out that 804m litres of milk from NI moved south of the border last year to be used in products under the integrated supply chain.

Industry figures stressed that Ireland would now have to compete with dairy and beef produced on a cheaper scale by countries such as Brazil and New Zealand.

“Processors are processing animals today, facing the real risk that meat from these animals may not be able to enter to UK market or, if it does, the market return being seriously devalued due to tariffs,” Cormac Healy of MII said.

Bord Bia stated that the UK tariff regime would be detrimental to Irish farmers and agri-food exporters.

In response to the proposals, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said he had been in contact with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan on the need to provide support for Irish farming post-Brexit. “This process of engagement is continuing today (Wednesday), where senior officials from the Department are discussing further the possibilities for sectoral support,” Minister Creed said.

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