THE UK and Irish governments are to bring in a new product to mark "red" diesel (green diesel in Ireland) in an attempt to help reduce illegal fuel laundering from April 1 2015.
The dye will also be used for marking kerosene, primarily used for heating purposes.
The new marker will make rebated fuel much harder for fraudsters to "launder" (ie remove the marker from it) and sell it on at a profit.
Launderers filter the fuel through chemicals or acids to remove the government marker.
The Government believes the chosen marker has proved to be significantly more resistant to known laundering techniques. It will be implemented in consultation with the oil industry and other affected sectors and will be used alongside the current marker mix.
Rise in UK sheep meat exports
UK export volumes of sheep meat in the first six months of 2014 hit their highest half-year level since 1998, according to EBLEX, the promotional body for beef and lamb funded by English and Welsh levy payers.
Global shipments totalled 48,000 tonnes in the first half of the year, an increase of almost 2 per cent compared to the same period in 2013.
Demand from non-EU markets has helped drive the growth, with shipments to these markets 36 per cent ahead of 2013 levels at 10,600 tonnes. The total value of UK sheep meat exports for the period was up 3 per cent on the year at £183.9m.
Commission agrees support for dairy products
IN response to the crisis created by the Russian import ban, the European Commission yesterday agreed to provide private storage aid to cover the cost of butter and skimmed milk powder for three to seven months. It has also signalled its intent to extend the measures to cheese, with exports to Russia worth around €1bn (£790m) to the EU in 2013.
Market round-up
UNITED Auctions sold 508 store heifers at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 241.8p per kg and an average of 208.7p (-2.6p on the week), while 804 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 260.9p and levelled at 216.8p (-1.9p). One hundred store, B&W bullocks sold to 183.2p and averaged 142.5p (no change).
In the rough ring, 138 cows averaged 129.1p.
The firm also had 7966 store sheep forward.
Top prices and averages for lambs: Suffolks to £69 and averaged £58.86 (+£1.09 on the week); Texels £70 and £57.79 (+36p); Beltex £65 and £60.80 (+£2.42); Mules £55.50 and £51.06 (-£2.66); Cheviots £59.50 and £49.11 (+£3.88); Blackfaces £52 and £41 (+£2.42).
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