Paisley in talks over export ban

Precautions are taken at Fermanagh County show

First Minister Ian Paisley has spoken to the Foreign Office after NI firms reported difficulties shipping meat and dairy products to some countries.

NI is exempt from an EU ban on British exports of meat and dairy products due to foot-and-mouth in Surrey.

However, a shipment of pork from County Tyrone was stopped from entering Japan and a local dairy company claimed Germany had refused its produce.

Mr Paisley said he would stress that NI had not been affected by the outbreak.

Dale Farm said orders were at risk after what it claimed was Germany's decision to ban all UK milk products.

Difficulties were also being encountered in shipping dairy products to South American markets.

Ian Paisley has stressed the exemption from the ban

The pork stopped in Japan was sent from Grampian Foods in Cookstown.

Hugh McReynolds, the firm's managing director, said it was not good news for Northern Ireland's pig farmers.

"It is worrying because we are coming from a backdrop where grain prices are rising steadily and pig farmers are in a very difficult situation," he said.

"There is no risk in this at the moment, because we do not have any foot-and-mouth disease and I believe we can keep it out of Northern Ireland."

Grampian said it was also experiencing difficulties in shipping its products to the US and Germany.

Dale Farm said Germany has refused to take dairy products

On Monday, Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew's confirmed that Northern Ireland was to be allowed to continue to export meat and dairy products.

The government has imposed a ban on the movement of livestock in England, Scotland and Wales.

Northern Ireland has imposed a ban on all cattle, sheep and pigs from Britain, but there are currently no restrictions on the movement of livestock within Northern Ireland and across the border.

A temporary ban has also been placed on the import of fresh meat and unpasteurised milk from the rest of the UK.

Disinfected mats have also been installed at airports and seaports through which all passengers and vehicles entering the province must travel.