Irish grain farmers who earlier this year prevented the unloading of grain, claiming imports were keeping native prices down, have alleged the most recent import of grain from the Ukraine could be dangerous.
The Irish Farmers' Association grain committee yesterday called on the Department of Agriculture to screen immediately the wheat which arrived in Dundalk port earlier in the week for contamination with hazardous chemicals.
This should be done, said committee chairman Mr Paddy Harrington, before the grain was incorporated into animal feed rations.
"It is evident that some Irish companies and major multinationals, involved both in the manufacturing and retail business, are using cheap and potentially unsafe grain to further their own financial gains, in total disregard of consumer safety," he said.
"They look for Irish farmers to provide full traceability and assurance on produce supplied, but at the same time, they knowingly use imported food and feed ingredients that have been produced using hazardous chemicals," said Mr Harrington.
He said the shipment of Ukrainian wheat had been imported with a view to supplying a number of compound feed mills when there were adequate supplies of quality-assured native Irish and EU feed wheat available.
"It is outrageous that Irish farmers, who adhere to the highest standards, are being forced to compete with imported product, where the chemicals used in its production have been outlawed for health reasons in the EU," Mr Harrington added.
"The EU needs to take decisive action immediately and ensure that all foods and feed ingredients entering the community are produced to EU standards.
"Multinational companies should not be allowed to abdicate their responsibilities to consumers in the pursuit of financial gains and competitive advantage over their smaller rivals," said Mr Harrington.
Feed wheat prices in the Ukraine are running at around €80 a tonne while Irish growers are receiving between €112-€115 a tonne for the grain which they produce.
It was also claimed during the week that grain for use in the animal feed sector in the Republic of Ireland was being imported into Northern Ireland ports to avoid protests by grain growers based in the South.
The Department of Agriculture said it takes samples of all imported grains to check for banned chemicals and any other contaminants.