Foot and Mouth - Food industry updated

DARD and DETI have been jointly holding meetings with food industry representatives to update them on the current foot and mouth situation and the action being taken to maintain local exports.

The series of meetings are being chaired jointly by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) Permanent Secretary, Dr Malcolm McKibbin, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) Permanent Secretary, Stephen Quinn. Today’s meetings involved representatives from the local red meat and dairy sectors. A meeting with the retail sector will take place on Friday.

The chairmen have taken the opportunity to discuss the experiences of the industry since the foot and mouth disease outbreak in Great Britain was declared, and to discuss ways of further promoting the Northern Ireland food industry in European and other international markets.

At today’s meetings, industry representatives were supportive of the arrangements now in place and agreed that no changes should be made for the time being. However, the position will be kept under review depending on foot and mouth disease developments in Great Britain.

Northern Ireland remains a foot and mouth free zone.

Notes to Editors:

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