Cheap imports a serious threat to UK beef industry

Over-reliance on cheap meat imports from countries such as Brazil could destroy the home industry and jeopardise its availability in the UK if the sources of imports were to dry up, warned chairman of the Meat & Livestock Commission Peter Barr.

Barr has been concerned for some time about the detrimental impact on UK farmers of rising beef imports from Brazil, aided by the high value of the pound. Speaking to an audience of industry figures and politicians last week, he said: "It would be very foolhardy to assume that a constant supply of imported beef will always be available to us."

He warned of the dangers of climate change on agriculture elsewhere in the world and said this could undermine the UK's food security. He singled out Brazil for criticism for expanding its beef exports while destroying its rain forests.

"Cheap imported meat today at the price of home production could in the worst cases mean no meat tomorrow," he said. And while acknowledging the need for imports, he added: "We shouldn't become over reliant on sourcing all of a food from abroad … we mustn't lose our capability to produce food on this island."

Moving on to pig meat imports, Barr also complained: "Too often meat coming into this country doesn’t meet the production or welfare standards required by our own farmers."

According to the latest reports from the British Pig Executive more than 60% of the pork and pork products we eat in this country are imported. Two-thirds of these imports are claimed to come from livestock systems that do not conform with the welfare standards required under European Union regulation. "We need fair trade as well as free trade," said Barr.