One of the largest sheep-processing operators in the Republic, Irish Country Meats, has agreed not to import lamb from Northern Ireland until next Tuesday.
The suspension of the imports by the lamb division of the Avonmore/Waterford group followed picketing of its plants and other lamb-processing factories by the Irish Farmers' Association. Following negotiations between ICM and the IFA at the Hazel Hotel, Monasterevin, on Monday night, ICM agreed to suspend the procurement of sheep from the North for a week. It also reaffirmed company policy not to process lamb from outside Ireland.
Last week, the ICSA, representing dry-stock owners, claimed to have tracked a lorry load of lamb from Britain, through Larne, to a lamb-processing plant in Leinster.
Revenue audits are under way in many of the Republic's lamb processing plants and Department of Agriculture officials are seeking proof of origin of lamb. It is legal to import lamb from Northern Ireland but lamb from Britain must be accompanied by health certificates and be sent to a pre-designated plant for slaughter.