An All-Ireland approach to promoting farm produce moved a step closer yesterday with the setting-up of a working group to produce a joint strategy on animal health status.
The Irish Farmers' Association and the Ulster Farmers' Union agreed at a meeting in Dublin that an "island of Ireland" health status would allow the promotion of a distinct "Ireland origin" product.
A spokesman for the groups said such branding would be irrespective of whether the product was produced in Northern Ireland or the Republic, and would be seen as a mark of distinction and quality worldwide.
The initiative emerged after three hours of discussion and is seen as a highly significant step for the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU).
"Both sides are fully committed to the implementation of the necessary regulation and controls to guarantee and assure consumers that the island of Ireland meets the highest animal health standards internationally," the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, farm representatives have conceded there could have been some "very minor" illegal movements of animals in foot-and-mouth restricted areas in south Armagh and on the Cooley peninsula.
They were reacting to yesterday's Irish Times report that farmers had moved sheep illegally within restricted areas in Louth and south Armagh last week.
Sources on both sides of the Border had confirmed illegal movements had taken place to prevent slaughter and avoid detection of false claims for ewe premium payments.
"I have no doubt that at some very minor level there could have been some illegal movements," said IFA president Mr Tom Parlon.
But reports of anything more widespread were "speculative and inaccurate", he claimed.
Mr Raymond O'Malley, Louth IFA chairman, said there may had been a few "very minor" movements of sheep from one field to the next to avoid the cull, but that was purely academic now as the sheep cull had been extended to cover the entire Cooley peninsula.
"There is no way any sheep could get out of Cooley. It's like Fort Knox here.It has to be seen to be believed."
Mr Charles Reilly, Irish Cattle Traders' and Stockowners' Association president said he was "amazed" at the report.
"In reality, in the current climate, I believe that large-scale smuggling and malpractice in Cooley would neither be feasible because of security, nor acceptable because of local sentiment in the current difficulties."
A Department of Agriculture spokeswoman said there was no evidence to suggest sheep were being illegally moved or that sheep numbers were not tallying with ewe premium applications.
She said the Department stood by its prediction that about 40,000 sheep would have been slaughtered when the cull ended this weekend.
Helicopters would be flown over the peninsula afterwards, to remove any stray sheep.
Mr John Gilliland, UFU deputy president, said any movement of animals would be a sign of pure recklessness.
"We are fairly happy that if there was movement, it was on a very small scale.
"The figures are what we would have expected," he said.
Mr Gilliland said these claims highlighted the need for an All-Ireland approach. "Quite clearly, diseases like this do not recognise any international border.
"So it is imperative that we look at Ireland as a whole and use the water around us as a natural barrier."
The UFU has also welcomed a decision by the EU Commission to lift restrictions on meat exports from the North.
