Poultry plants ‘small but competitive’
IRELAND - Poultry processing plants in Ireland are small compared with the main players in other countries, but increasing the number would not serve the interests of the industry.
19 March 2007
2 minute read
That is the view of Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan, as the sector faces growing competitive and other challenges.
The poultry industry is worth €150 million to the economy annually, has some 8,000 registered flock owners, including 1,100 commercial operators, and an egg sector with some 250 producers.
It has 14 European Union approved slaughter plants but imports plus rising energy and other costs have caused major problems for companies in recent years.
Fortunately, there has been no outbreak of bird flu in Ireland, but the threat posed to the industry by the virus is an added concern for both producers and processors.
Ms Coughlan said the need to seek economies through rationalisation and a reduction in poultry plant numbers was identified in the Agri Food 2010 report.
She said there are adequate poultry processing facilities in this country having regard to such criteria as the overall volume of poultry being produced here.
Source: IrishExaminer.com
