THE Department of Agriculture said last night that it would not prevent imports of British beef as this would be illegal under EU rules, but that current import levels were "very low".
It emerged yesterday that over £10 million worth of British beef was imported by meat plants here last year. But, said the Department, it was almost all returned to Britain when processed.
The Department issued its statement in Dublin in the wake of Britain's BSE-CJD announcement. France and Belgium banned the import of all British beef and beef products, Germany for increased protection for EU consumers, and the Dutch, Italians and Portuguese said they were considering what measures, to take.
The Netherlands announced that it was suspending all imports of live cattle, beef and beef products from Britain pending a meeting of the European Commission on Monday.
One Irish supermarket chain, Superquinn, said it was asking its suppliers of beef and beef products to indicate the sources. If the beef was British or its origins were not clear, the product would be removed before its 16 stores opened today.
Sources in the beef processing sector said unofficially that no more British beef would be imported. Representatives of the industry were in Brussels yesterday to lobby for higher EU export refunds to offset an expected drop in sales.
As Ireland moved to protect its vital beef and live cattle export industry, worth an estimated £2 billion, there were calls for the Department of Health to take over the food portfolio from the Department of Agriculture and Food. The Consumers' Association of Ireland backed this.
There was growing pressure on the Department to mount a campaign in Britain and Europe for the Irish beef brand. But cattle prices at marts here stayed reasonably firm.
Bord Bia (the Food Board) said it was too early to evaluate the effect on sales in Britain. Over 50 per cent of the £200 million worth of Irish beef sold there is channelled through multiple retail chains.