Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association

Current Issues

The Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association is currently working on the following issues:

Availability of GM Varieties

NIGTA is working with its parent organisation, Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), lobbying in Europe to ensure that EU approvals of GM materials is in line with that in other countries throughout the world.

Percentage Declaration Of Ingredients

NIGTA lobbied extensively with MEPs, Department Of Agriculture And Rural Development (DARD) and Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland, to support the case taken to the European Court of Justice on percentage declaration of ingredients. This matter is still not resolved and the proposals currently being made could be misleading to the farmer and the industry generally. NIGTA is continuing to lobby.

Nitrates And Phosphates Directive

NIGTA members have agreed an average level of phosphorous in ruminant feed in order to assist farmers to meet the requirements of this directive. The Association has also had discussions with the Fertiliser Manufacturers Association, the Ulster Farmers Union and DARD regarding a united industry effort on this Directive.

Farm Quality Assured Cereals Scheme

Discussions with Ulster Farmers Union with a view to facilitating cereal growers to become audited to EN45011 standard, which is required by the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS).

GMO Labelling

NIGTA is continuing to update the food industry on the future prospects for GM free materials.

Bone Spicules And Zero Tolerance

NIGTA has instigated extra sampling to ensure that any problem with imported cargoes is detected on arrival in port.

Opportunities For Increasing Farm Profit Margins

NIGTA is concerned that successful results obtained through research and by the top quartile of farmers in each sector, are not always being replicated on-farm and is having discussions with DARD and Ulster Farmers Union on a co-operative effort to help the farming industry reach its potential.

NIGTA Membership

NIGTA has recently revised its Articles of Association in order to expand its membership base, and thus increase its lobbying powers.