UFU fails to stop market levy
31 January 2001
UFU fails to stop market levy
By FWi staff
THE Ulster Farmers Union has failed to persuade livestock markets to drop plans for a 2 levy per animal on buyers.
The UFU met the Northern Irelands Livestock Markets Association on Tuesday (30 January), but could not come to an agreement on the issue.
Union president Douglas Rowe said: “We remain opposed to the principle of the Markets Association imposing a flat-rate fee on farmers.
“This is anti-competitive and therefore unacceptable to us, but unfortunately no agreement could be reached in our meeting.
“The Union will now consider fully how best to deal with this problem”.
Farmers have been up in arms since finding out about the intention to introduce a buyers commission.
The Livestock Markets Association claims it is necessary to reverse the pattern of trading losses suffered over the past four years.