MoD meat snub angers stock men
28 July 2000
MoD meat snub angers stock men
by FWi staff
THE livestock industry has reacted angrily to the news that the Ministry of Defence will look abroad for some of its beef and lamb.
The National Farmers Union of Scotland said it was inconsistent for the government to support the British Food Standard but not buy British.
Our ability to compete is being hampered because government economic policy has led to a strong pound which makes imports cheaper.
Defence minister Lewis Moonie said the MoD was working to ensure the maximum amount of beef and lamb came from the UK.
But once stocks of EU intervention beef ran out later this year a proportion was likely to be imported, he conceded.
Farmers say beef and lamb producers in this country have higher costs because they operate to higher standards than most other countries.