New Zealand chilled lamb has the French up in arms Chilled lamb imports from New Zealand are causing controversy again. The focus of attention this time is on alleged disruption of the French market rather than the British retail trade, but the new dispute has implications for supplies and prices in the UK. Easter offers of the New Zealand chilled product in Paris supermarkets at far below the usual imported frozen lamb price of about FF45 (£4.30) per kilo highlighted a supply surge already worrying domestic producers and Irish exporters who are heavily dependent on French sales. Protests had been building since early in the year and culminated in calls for action by the European Commission. Its own import statistics appeared to confirm the French and Irish claims of increasing pressure on the market and the Commission's initial response was to promise it would write to the New Zealanders, presumably seeking assurances of price discipline. First reaction from Down Under was conciliatory but with a hint of frustration. "We can't control the retail price, but we get stick for it," The Grocer was told. Tonnages of chilled NZ lamb are only a tiny proportion of overall EU supply and the season is now coming to an end anyway. But New Zealand sources admit that their increasing sales activity on the continent reflects a change in the EU market pattern. The UK takes a decreasing proportion of their shipments, but reduced competition facing British producers at home is offset by tougher trading conditions in their main export market as NZ supplies switch to France. {{MEAT }}

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