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HomeFarming NewsExclusive: Mart buyers may boycott sales over Covid-19 restrictions
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Exclusive: Mart buyers may boycott sales over Covid-19 restrictions

A decision not to allow a limited number of registered buyers into mart rings under level 5 restrictions has been slammed by Ireland’s Future.

Leader of Ireland’s Future, Gerry Loftus, has stated the organisation does not acknowledge or accept the protocol approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine.

“I understand this decision support by two mart organisations and was taken with no representation for 30% of marts in the west of Ireland. It also greatly undermines the recognition of the organisation representing those marts.” the Mayo native stressed.

Under level 5:
  • Sales rings are to remain closed – marts may facilitate online sales;
  • Marts must put a drop and go policy in place for sellers. This means that farmers or their representatives may deliver livestock to the mart by appointment and must then depart from the mart premises. Where feasible, farmers or their representatives should remain in their vehicle while on the mart premises, and mart staff should unload and load livestock and take passports;
  • Marts must arrange that individual appointment times are allocated to individual buyers to view or collect livestock.   Buyers should attend the mart on their own, without accompaniment.
Boycott mart sales

“As a result of the decision not to allow any buyers into sales rings, a boycott of mart sales is being considered, starting this Saturday.”

“What is being proposed is both unfair and uncompetitive as regards sellers. It is unacceptable that people, who may not get a chance to view stock in the flesh, are asked to buy a pig in a bag.”

Ireland Future said that it will not support and promote the actions outlined until “common sense and fairness prevails”.

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