Beef report unrealistic - Ford

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 15th Dec 2000

David Ford MLA, Alliance Spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Development has described one of the recommendations of the Assembly Agriculture Committees Beef Report as "unrealistic"

Commenting on the publication of the Report, David Ford said

" I welcome the publication of the report, which makes a number of positive recommendations on the way forward for beef producers in Northern Ireland."

"However, I believe that the report has been seriously compromised by the late addition of a recommendation calling for a ban on certain imports."

"I have every sympathy with the need to protect human and animal health in any way possible. But calling for a ban on imports ' that pose a threat to the local industry is illegal under EU law. It is ridiculous coming from a Statutory Committee of the Assembly."

"This recommendation detracts from the useful content of the Report and should have been left out."

ENDS.