CHEAPER imported lamb and beef is now on the market with EU accession, putting pressure on local farmers to cut their costs if they want to remain in competition, Consumers’ Association President Petros Markou said yesterday.
Lamb from Greece and beef from Germany are now being imported into Cyprus and available for sale at over 300 butchers. According to the President of the Butchers’ Association, Costas Livadiotis, more and more people are buying imported lamb, as it is 15 per cent cheaper than the Cypriot produce.
“I’ve noticed people are buying the lamb imported from Greece because it is much cheaper. For example one kilo of imported lamb costs £4 while Cypriot lamb costs £4,50 per kilo,” said Livadiotis.
He did, however, say that some consumers were afraid to try the new imported lamb as they feared it might have suffered on its way to the island and there was also the caution regarding fears of BSE in imported beef.
Livadiotis assured the Cyprus Mail that the imported meat was not frozen, but fresh when it arrived on the island and quite safe to eat.
“All butchers are interested in selling the imported meat, as it is cheaper and there is a demand from people to buy the lamb and beef,” said Livadiotis.
He admitted to having tried the imported lamb and beef himself and told the Cyprus Mail the quality was just as good as that of Cypriot produce and that the lamb carcasses weighed 10 or 16 kilos.
“Consumers must try the meat for themselves and judge whether or not they like it,” said Livadiotis.
Over 20 tons of beef have already arrived from Germany and 800 lambs from Greece. More orders are expected to be passed in the near future and delivered to the island.
But animal feeders and the slaughterhouse in Paphos could suffer the consequences of the cheaper imported lamb. Livadiotis revealed that animal farmers must increase their efficiency and lower their costs in order to stay afloat.
“The Grain Commission has been forced to stop subsidising farmers for the cereal used in animal feed, increasing their costs by 150 per cent,” explained Livadiotis.
He added that only the Kofinou abattoir conformed to EU regulations and therefore animal farmers were forced to take their animals there, which increased the final price by 10 per cent.
He stressed that it would be extremely difficult for other slaughterhouses to open if they wanted to, as there may not be enough business for them.
Consumers’ Association President Markou said it was the consumer’s right to choose which products to buy, but admitted it was likely that people would be attracted to lower prices.
“If the imported meat is cheaper, consumers will prefer to buy it, but quality is a factor as to whether people will continue to choose the cheaper meat,” said Markou.
He added measures would have to be taken by animal farmers and abattoirs so the government could grant them subsidies for their animals. “This is up to the organisations to ask for the subsidies as at the moment our price increases are exceeding those of the rest of the EU,” said Markou.
“Protectionism has now ended with our accession to the EU and paved the way towards a free market, where there is healthy competition,” said Markou. “Consumers will not be the ones to suffer if things don’t change, animal farmers will.”
