The North's Agriculture Minister has been accused by unionists of risking the spread of foot-and-mouth disease by bringing the bodies of animals culled in south Armagh for rendering in Belfast.
Around 2,500 sheep are being slaughtered in the preventive cull aimed at meeting the European Commission requirement for granting regionalised status next Tuesday.
The chairman of the Assembly's agriculture committee, Dr Ian Paisley, said Mrs Brid Rodgers and her Department had been held to ransom by rogue farmers in south Armagh seeking promises they would not face prosecution for smuggling.
"It's because there's no law and order in that particular area the Department has bowed to what they have said," the DUP leader said. "We are not fools at this table. We know what was discussed at these meetings. We know that an amnesty was asked for."
Mrs Rodgers did not deny an amnesty had been asked for. "Dr Paisley has talked about amnesty. The most important thing is that I addressed legitimate concerns that were expressed to me," she said.
The Department of Agriculture's chief veterinary officer insisted there was no risk from moving the carcasses of the slaughtered sheep to Belfast for rendering.
Mr Bob McCracken told the committee that fears of spreading the disease were unfounded but the deputy chairman said he too wanted the sheep disposed of in south Armagh.
Mr George Savage of the UUP described the movement to a Belfast site, which was near animal-feed manufacturers, as an "unnecessary complication".