'A SIZEABLE quantity' of beef was imported into the UK from Poland at the start of the Covid-19 lockdown, Northern Irish farm minister Edwin Poots has confirmed.

During a conference call involving Defra Secretary of State, George Eustice, ministers from the other devolved UK administrations and the main supermarkets, Minister Poots said: “It is deeply regrettable that at this time of great pressure on our farmers, we learned last week that a sizeable quantity of beef has been imported into the UK from Poland.

“Our local farming industry is working hard to ensure we keep food on our tables in the most challenging of circumstances and we must do all we can to support them and to ensure that we have a profitable and sustainable beef sector in the future," he said. “I am pleased to say that the retailers involved have assured me that they will make every effort to support our local food supply chain, our local farmers and families and encourage people to buy local.”

Ireland's largest meat processor ABP has defended its decision to source Polish beef to fill UK supermarket shelves cleared by panic-buying, saying that its own processing capacity had been unable to meet the 'unprecedented' surge in demand.

“ABP temporarily supplemented its existing supply chain with European beef, including Poland," said a company spokesman. "This product is produced to the same exacting traceability and quality standards as all ABP products. This was a temporary measure related to one product which was clearly labelled and was aimed to meet the surge in demand at that time.”

However Irish Farmers' Association president Tim Cullinan reacted: “At a time when Irish beef farmers are facing collapsing prices, it is incredible that the ABP food group, an Irish-owned company, would bring in beef from Poland to stock supermarket shelves in the UK."

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