Figures released by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) show that the consumption of imported beef as a percent of the total amount of beef eaten on the Island is the lowest for 10 years. Licensed beef importers have only used 55% of their quota and this is the lowest level for 7 years.

DAFF say the amount of locally produced beef eaten on the Island has risen every year over the last five years and, over the same period, the amount of imported beef has fallen. Home produced beef now accounts for 89% of the beef consumed on the Island.

DAFF Minister, Phil Gawne said: “I am delighted that Manx people are choosing to buy locally produced beef rather than imported beef. Recent research has shown that locally produced food is valued for its quality and freshness and our beef certainly lives up to this.

The marketing activity carried out by the ‘I love Manx’ campaign, Isle of Man Meats and others have clearly been successful in raising the profile of local meat and it is pleasing to note that retailers are ensuring that consumers can easily obtain it. This is good news for Manx beef farmers who do such a good job of providing a quality product.

The Department is continuing to support a range of initiatives to promote Manx food both here and abroad and I hope to see continued growth in sales.”

The Manx Herald recently concluded - following the Irish PCB/dioxin ‘meat scare’ involving contaminated animal feed, and an initial investigation of the IOM situation - that if you are going to eat meat buying Manx was probably not such a bad idea.

Further investigations, carried out since the publication of that article (20^th December 2008), have not caused the Manx Herald to change its mind; even though Mr Gawne and Environment Minister, John Shimmin have acknowledged that testing procedures are not perfect and ways of improving the situation are always being considered. However, Mr Gawne wished to assure the public that DAFF seek to "ensure the highest standards and levels of public confidence in our food".

Mr Shimmin has said that investment has recently been made in new equipment meaning that fewer tests now have to be conducted off Island, which can be very expensive, and consideration is been given to offering testing to off-island businesses to supplement income.

Incidentally, the Manx Herald also contacted Laxey Glen Mills, and Sandra Donnelly, Mill manager, informed the Herald that they regularly conduct tests for pesticides, heavy metals and micro toxins and the levels are well below the required limits. Furthermore, the product produced as an animal feed is farm assured and levels of micro toxins are within the specification allowed.

Meanwhile, in Ireland a month long agricultural committee inquiry has just completed hearing evidence from a string of witnesses regarding the contaminated meat scare and a further inquiry, into the incident, is to be chaired by Prof Patrick Wall from UCD.