Single poultry body established in Ireland
More than 100 members of the Irish poultry industry have agreed to establish a single strong body to represent everyone from primary producers to processors of both eggs and poultry meat.
The new body is expected to work on many common issues ranging from proposed legislation, prevention and control of diseases such as campylobacter, and welfare directives in egg and broiler production.
The proposal for a new council came from a meeting organised by Marion Harkin, MEP for the North and West region, including Counties Cavan and Monaghan which is the major poultry production area in Ireland.
An interim group was nominated and includes Justin Carton of Carton Brothers poultry meat processors, Alo Mohan of the Irish Farmers Association, Adrienne McGuinness of the Nest Box Egg Company, and poultry vet Frank Clerkin.
Most of the national retailers agreed to get involved and it is expected that Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board) and the Department of Agriculture will also join. The nominated group has contacted agriculture minister Simon Coveney and expects to finalise the establishment of the new Poultry Council early in 2013.
Source: Poultry World
