West Tyrone MLA Declan Mc Aleer has called for Northern Ireland’s dairy producers to be treated on an equal basis as their counterparts in thesouth.
Mr Mc Aleer was speaking after raising the matter of food labelling with the Enterprise & Trade Minister, Arlene Foster during question time in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Mr McAleer said: “The National Dairy Council (NDC) collects a levy from dairy farmers which is used to promote their produce. One of the means by which this is achieved is through the inclusion of a NDC label on products.
“However, one of the frustrating anomalies for companies in the six counties who operate across the island is that the NDC label cannot be affixed if processing happens in the north and this is having a detrimental impact on the industry.
“For example, Minister Foster revealed that Dale Farm recently lost a substantial contract in Superquinn because it could not display the mark. I am personally aware of companies like Strathroy Dairy who collect milk from farmers in Tyrone, Derry and Donegal and employ many people throughout Ireland but cannot use the NDC label.
“Such processors strongly feel that not being permitted to use the label inhibits their ability to trade across the island placing them at a serious disadvantage to other processors.
“I am glad that minister is taking this matter very seriously and has raised it with her ministerial counterparts in Leinster House as well as the Agricultural Trust, the Irish Competition Authority, representatives from the food processing sector and the Irish Farmers’ Association.
“In response to my question about raising the issue at a NSMC meeting, the Minister revealed that she discussed the matter on the fringe of a North-South Ministerial Council meeting and that she would meet whoever she needed to meet given the detrimental impact that the campaign is having on us.”
Mr McAleer concluded: “I have also written to the Chief Executive of InterTradeIreland to ask for their intervention and I have also discussed the subject with DARD minister Michelle O’Neill. All that producers in the north are asking for is fair play and the right to be treated on the same trading basis as their counterparts in other parts of the country.”
Speaking in the Assembly Mrs Foster said: “I am concerned that the National Dairy Council (NDC) campaign is a contravention of the principles of the single market. I believe that the campaign is a misuse of country of origin labelling. It discriminates against consumers in the Republic of Ireland, who are being denied the additional choice and benefits of market dynamics that product from Northern Ireland would provide.
“I have raised the issue with the Irish Competition Authority and with my ministerial counterparts in the Republic of Ireland.
“I have discussed the negative impact of the campaign with the Agricultural Trust, which includes representatives from the food processing sector, the Irish Farmers’ Association.
“Finally, I, along with my colleague Diane Dodds MEP, have brought the issue to the attention of the European Commission.
“I am becoming increasingly concerned by feedback from the Northern Ireland dairy processing industry about the adverse impact of the NDC campaign on local businesses.
“Over recent weeks, I wrote to one of the major multiples in the Republic of Ireland seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the matter.
“I am aware that the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland is threatening to take action in the European courts to stop the campaign. I welcome that approach and will offer support in addressing its anti-competitive stance.
“Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are food-exporting regions, and neither can afford to be protectionist.
“If the scheme were to be replicated in Great Britain, and excluded product not produced and processed in the UK, it would cause immense problems for the food industry in the Republic of Ireland.”
Source: Farming Life