According to new figures announced today at Bord Bia’s Poultry and Egg Conference, sales of eggs in Ireland have increased by 22%, reaching a value of €74.6 million for the year to July 2008 and sales of poultry have increased by 5% for the same period, reaching a value of €227 million*. The one day conference, held in association with the Irish Poultry and Egg Industry in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan, attracted over 250 delegates ranging from poultry growers, processors, egg producers to packers, millers and retailers.
According to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Mr. Brendan Smith TD, who delivered the closing address, "We share a widespread concern about the issue of labelling poultrymeat, in particular the labelling of imported meat to show its country of origin.Not alone do consumers want this informationbut, in my view, they are entitled to this information. I see no valid reason why it should be withheld as long as there is no interference with the free operation of the market. The competitiveness of imported poultrymeat is an unrelenting challenge for Irish producers. Apart from our higher cost base we will always have an economies-of-scale disadvantage arising from the market here being so small compared to production levels in Europe and further afield. At the global level the outlook for the poultry sector is good with growth of around 2 per cent annually being forecasted for the coming decade."
Speaking at the event Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive, Bord Bia said “poultry meat consumption accounts for 29% of total meat consumed in Ireland, however imports continue to exert downward pressure on the indigenous Irish poultry industry. In June 2008, we consolidated the existing quality assurance standards for chicken, duck and turkey to develop Bord Bia’s PPQAS (Poultry Products Quality Assurance Scheme), for which we have EN45011 accreditation. We estimate that 98% of all chicken and 85% of all poultry produced in Ireland fall within the scheme and we will continually encourage consumers to look for the Bord Bia Quality mark when shopping. Over the coming weeks, we will be promoting the vast range of Quality mark produce to increase awareness and purchase frequency during the Christmas season.”
“The poultry and egg sector continues to make a valuable contribution to the Irish agricultural economy, with output at farm level estimated at €150 million in 2007. The sector is a significant employer in rural Ireland with over 6,000 people employed in poultry processing and egg packing and up to a further 850 farms involved in the production of poultry and eggs” he added.
The one day conference entitled ‘Producing for Tomorrow’s Market’ provided a forum for the poultry and egg sector to identify emerging challenges, technical advances and openly address current issues facing the industry.
A panel of high profile Irish and international speakers focussed on key topical items includingregulatory environment, welfare issues, future protein supply and new marketing trends. The keynote speakers included Mr. David Green, American Soybean Association; Mr. Ronan Hughes, Managing Director, R & H Hall; Dr Han Swinkels, Manager Livestock Production, ZLTO; Ms Judit Krommer, EU Commission and Mr. Andrew Jorêt, Director, Noble Foods and Deputy Chairman, BEIC.
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* Source: TNS Worldpanel