UK beef for Italy delayed

CONTINUED wrangling with the French has held up shipments of British beef to customers in Italy, despite a promise almost three weeks ago by Paris to lift the ban on the transit of beef across its territory.

Export manager at the Meat and Livestock Commission, Terry Lee, says problems with the documentation for consignments entering and leaving the country, as well as concerns about the seals on vehicles carrying the meat, have prevented any beef from passing through France.

St Merryn Meats, one of only two abattoir groups in the UK to have a licence to export under the date-based scheme, is believed to have agreed on a deal with an Italian buyer at the Anuga food fair in Cologne on Oct 12.

The first consignment should be on its way to Italy “by the end of the month”, said Mr Lee

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