The Farmers’ Union of Wales today hit out at Tesco’s proposals to introduce an “Irish-born, British-finished” label which will add to consumer confusion at a time when UK retailers should be seeking to clarify labelling and source more British born and reared produce.

According to media reports, beef from cattle imported from Ireland for fattening in the UK could be labelled “Irish-born, British-finished” in order to circumvent current labelling rules and allow a country flag to be placed on the label.

“Apart from undermining UK farmers and the UK market in general, the plans would simply add to existing confusion over food labelling and undermine consumer confidence which has already been severely dented by the horsemeat scandal,” said FUW Denbighshire county chairman Iwan Jones.

“Consumers are looking for clarity in terms of food labelling and certainty regarding the origin of their food. We already have reliable labelling in the form of British Beef and PGI Welsh Beef and we should be seeking to simplify what is already out there, not add to the confusion.”

Mr Jones said people did not want to be further confused by the type of label being considered.

“Where the labelling is specifically aimed at circumventing rules it will either undermine confidence in the label or, more worryingly, undermine confidence in existing brands.”

Mr Jones said the FUW had written to Tesco’s chief executive Philip Clarke highlighting its concerns and warned other supermarkets not to follow suit.

“We sincerely hope that Tesco will not proceed with this plan, as it could be extremely damaging, and we would warn other supermarkets against considering similar approaches.

“The consumer deserves to know that meat they perceive as being British is genuinely British.

“They need clarity not more confusion which will simply raise suspicions and dent consumer confidence,” Mr Jones added.

The UK government's decision to hand over more CAP Pillar 2 funds than any other EU member state showed its professed support for rural development is empty rhetoric and that the UK had effectively negotiated against the interests of its own agricultural industry, Farmers' Union of Wales policy director Nick Fenwick told the Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum seminar today.

Dr Fenwick also told the seminar on "Implementing the Common Agricultural Policy and the future of UK farming" that the UK and Wales needed to look at what countries like Ireland were doing as they are key competitors within the UK market and in the EU.

In the presence of other speakers including Scottish Government's agriculture and rural development deputy director David Barnes, Tenant Farmers Association chairman Jeremy walker and Leeds University agricultural law professor Prof Michael Cardwell, Dr Fenwick highlighted the need for all regions within the UK to stop looking inwards and learn from other member states.

Speaking afterwards, he added: "The inward looking island mentality seems to dominate the UK's negotiating position and general approach to CAP, whereas UK governments need to take account of the fact we are competing in a common market and look outwards."

Commenting on the forthcoming Welsh consultation on implementing CAP reform in Wales, Dr Fenwick urged the Welsh Government not to make any binding decisions until the text of the final regulations had been considered carefully and the Welsh budget confirmed.

"The Welsh Government has a duty to explore all the available avenues carefully and with real figures before making any decisions."

[caption id="attachment_2520" align="aligncenter" width="276"] Farmers' Union of Wales policy director Nick Fenwick[/caption]

Hot topics during the Farmers' Union of Wales Anglesey county branch's annual general meeting at Tafarn-Y-Rhos, Rhostrehwfa, were cattle movements and restrictions plus the importance of keeping all farm-related records.

Guest speakers, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency's Steve Sagar and Welsh Assembly Government farm liaison officer Janet Phillips, gave short presentations on rules and regulations involving animal movements and restrictions together with penalties likely to be applied whilst having on-farm inspections.

FUW county executive officer Heidi Williams said both speakers gave very informative presentations and endeavoured to simplify the rules and regulations into layman’s terms.

Mrs Williams also gave her annual speech, producing facts and figures for the performance of the county branch office during the past 12 months.

She said it was most important to entice new and young members into the union and look after those that had supported the union and paid their annual subscriptions for years.

FUW president Emyr Jones said he was very proud of Anglesey’s performance and that the county was thriving both from the farming and insurance aspects.

Eleven-year-old Anglesey schoolboy Joe Williams beat a strong entry of over 40 competitors at the recent Royal Highland show to win the young handlers championship.

Joe is the son of Farmers’ Union of Wales members Melfyn and Lynne Williams, of Brynsiencyn, and grandson of the immediate past president of the union's Anglesey county branch Huw Williams (popularly known as Huw Bugail).

Entries were in three age sections - under 9s, 10-11 and 12-14. Joe initially was placed first in his age group and won the championship by beating the first prizewinners from the other sections.

Joe travelled to the show with Melfyn and Hugh and his win capped off a superb week for the Penygroes flock with the family business J H Williams & Son also winning the male North Country Cheviot championship.

[caption id="attachment_2515" align="aligncenter" width="639"] YOUNG HANDLERS CHAMPION: Joe Williams with his three-crop ewe from the Llwyncrwn flock of Julie Earl, Carmarthen[/caption]