Ed Bedington
Fears are growing that retailers may reject beef from cattle over 30 months old.
The Food Standards Agency has recommended the government start phasing out the Over Thirty Month rule from January 2004 for cattle born after Aug 1996, with it ending completely in 2005.
The proposed changes will mean an extra 155,000 tonnes of beef coming back on to the UK market in 2004, with a further 203,000t the following year.
The decision has been broadly welcomed by the industry, but it is now calling for DEFRA to put pressure on the EU to end the Date Based Export Scheme which effectively means cattle over 30 months old is banned from export. The NFU said the changes were needed to relieve the likely pressures on the UK beef market.
But Peter Scott of the British Meat Federation said he believed that with imports currently in excess of 300,000 tonnes, the UK could handle the increased production.
However a number of retailers are already suggesting they may reject older beef.
A Waitrose spokeswoman said: "We're not going to change our specification to allow OTM cattle into our products." She said since the ban was introduced, it had worked with suppliers and improved the consistency and quality of its beef and had no plans to alter its policies.
A spokeswoman for M&S said: "We'll wait and see what happens in terms of regulatory approval, but our inclination would be to continue to use under 30 months beef."
Sainsbury said it accepted the FSA's recommendations, while Tesco described the decision as positive for British farmers.
A statement added: "The overwhelming majority of customers surveyed said they would support a move to allow OTM cattle to be used in food."
One industry leader said: "I think in the event, the retailers will take it, but it will be dependent on price and not on pushing them into a corner too early. They'll want their own assurances before they take it."
{{MARKET EDGE }}
Fears are growing that retailers may reject beef from cattle over 30 months old.
The Food Standards Agency has recommended the government start phasing out the Over Thirty Month rule from January 2004 for cattle born after Aug 1996, with it ending completely in 2005.
The proposed changes will mean an extra 155,000 tonnes of beef coming back on to the UK market in 2004, with a further 203,000t the following year.
The decision has been broadly welcomed by the industry, but it is now calling for DEFRA to put pressure on the EU to end the Date Based Export Scheme which effectively means cattle over 30 months old is banned from export. The NFU said the changes were needed to relieve the likely pressures on the UK beef market.
But Peter Scott of the British Meat Federation said he believed that with imports currently in excess of 300,000 tonnes, the UK could handle the increased production.
However a number of retailers are already suggesting they may reject older beef.
A Waitrose spokeswoman said: "We're not going to change our specification to allow OTM cattle into our products." She said since the ban was introduced, it had worked with suppliers and improved the consistency and quality of its beef and had no plans to alter its policies.
A spokeswoman for M&S said: "We'll wait and see what happens in terms of regulatory approval, but our inclination would be to continue to use under 30 months beef."
Sainsbury said it accepted the FSA's recommendations, while Tesco described the decision as positive for British farmers.
A statement added: "The overwhelming majority of customers surveyed said they would support a move to allow OTM cattle to be used in food."
One industry leader said: "I think in the event, the retailers will take it, but it will be dependent on price and not on pushing them into a corner too early. They'll want their own assurances before they take it."
{{MARKET EDGE }}
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