The crisis in Irish pork has already started to have major ramifications for workers within the entire pig industry. The SIPTU union said that up to 6,000 jobs in the industry were at risk. Overall, 2,000 workers in the pig industry have been put on protective notice.

The Association of Pigmeat Processors did not return to slaughtering yesterday as they insist they need a massive financial package to help them cope with the recall of pigmeat. The processors say they may need up to €1 billion from the Government because all of the recalled product will come back to them.

They say that legally they cannot buy a pig at the moment because they cannot quantify their financial exposure. The association was meeting the Taoiseach and the Agriculture Minister last night but no outcome is yet known.

Food & Drink Export Ireland, part of the Irish Exporters Association, said the move would affect other companies in industries far beyond the direct export of pig meat. such as pizza producers, food service companies which produce sandwiches and speciality pork pie and hamper producers. They said they believed this crisis would have a major effect on business previously worth around €750m.

IEA chief executive John Whelan said severe damage to the export trade was inevitable. He called on the Government and Bord Bia to support the industry and respond with 'positive marketing' in the aftermath of this incident.