THE early removal of the ban on live cattle by the Egyptian authorities is unlikely, farming sources indicated yesterday. This follows meetings with the technical delegation from Cairo.
Although the farm organisations, shippers and others who met the delegation yesterday spoke of positive and constructive meetings, privately there was an air of despondency.
The veterinary team from Egypt, which is led by Prof Adel Fayed of Cairo University, has been stressing that it is independent of the government.
Yesterday the team met the Irish Farmers' Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Jimmy Deenihan. They were guests at dinner last night given by the Irish Meat Association.
The IFA said that the meeting had been very positive. The IFA president, Mr John Donnelly, had assured the Egyptians of the commitment of farmers to the highest standard at production level, and emphasised the vital importance of the Egyptian market to the Irish cattle industry, it said.
"We pointed out that Irish farmers are totally committed to fully complying with all the rigorous animal health control measures now in place," said Mr Donnelly.
He added that he hoped the independent group would make a favourable report to the Egyptian authorities, and expressed satisfaction that it had found Irish animal health controls satisfactory.
The Irish Meat Association and the Department of Agriculture are preparing documentation for the Egyptians on Irish control techniques to prevent BSE infected meat entering the food chain.
These controls involve removing the brain and spinal cord, and other matter where the disease strikes, from animals at slaughter and destroying it.
The Egyptians do not remove this material from cattle imported, live, and its removal requires additional equipment and skills.
At this juncture there is no plan to aid the Egyptian processors directly. But there is a proposal to send Irish butchers to Egypt to teach the process, should the trade, resume.