LMC review must be thorough - Allister
22 August 2009
Welcoming the review of the LMC Jim Allister, TUV Leader, urged producers to take the opportunity to be heard and he identified issues which he thinks must be addressed.
In a statement Mr Allister said:-
“The red meat industry is vital to Ulster agriculture, thus the review of the LMC is as important for producers as processors. As funders, through substantial levies, I strongly agree with UFU Beef & Lamb Chairman, William Taylor, that the voice of the producers must be heard loud and clear, both in the review and within whatever new structures emerge. If producers are to be paymasters, then must be not just heard but heeded.
“As part of this review there should be a thorough audit of the effectiveness to date of the LMC, against value for money criteria. Strong promotion of Northern Ireland red meat abroad is vital to our whole economy, so ways of strengthening that are central. Likewise getting proper credit for our Quality Assured status is essential, along with an examination of how the duplication between Quality Assured inspections and cross compliance obligations can be reduced.
“The LMC Chairman has already highlighted the curse of red tape afflicting their operations, so a review which could loosen these shackles would be worthwhile. I suggest examination of the tortuous path that had to be trod in seeking regional status within the EU for Northern Ireland produce would exemplify much of the red tape nightmare.
“On the more strategic issues, subsuming LMC or its functions into the Department would be a retrograde step and wholly incompatible with the expectation of levy funding. Far from being department dominated, the LMC needs to be freed from the dead hand of government.
“I would also like to see the LMC become proactive in addressing the unacceptable disparity in prices between Northern Ireland and GB. To be effective in any such investigative and corrective role it needs to have maximum independence.
“This review is an opportunity for a genuine and deep look at how we can oversee and better organise our crucial red meat industry, and market it more successfully. I trust, therefore, that it is a review which does more than go through the motions and that unlike the Red Meat Task Force its deliberations will produce tangible results to the benefit of the entire industry.”
