The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has called for a public register to be set up naming companies that buy beef from Brazil and other countries outside the EU (third countries).

The farm organisation was reacting to statements from Dawn Farm Foods and sandwich shop chain Subway (which gets beef from Dawn Farm Foods) over the sourcing of beef from Brazil.

As reported by Agriland last week, Dawn Farm Foods acknowledged that some of its supply comes from Brazil.

Dawn Farm Foods' managing director is Larry Murrin, who is currently the chairperson of the board of Bord Bia, the role of which is the promotion of Irish agri-food.

The matter arose after members of the Beef Plan Movement noted signage in Subway outlets. This signage said that Irish Subway outlets were provided with beef sourced from approved plants in both Europe and Brazil.

Subway said in a statement to Agriland that the signage "reflects Dawn Farm Foods’ approved sourcing certification".

It said this "covers the full range of EU-approved plants to ensure supply continuity, and does not indicate the specific sourcing used in Irish restaurants".

Dawn Farm Foods, meanwhile, told Agriland: "In 2025, Irish beef made up the majority of our supply and together with the UK and other EU countries accounted for 99% of our annual supply. Brazilian beef accounted for the remaining 1%. None of this was supplied to Subway stores on the island of Ireland."

However, the presence of Brazilian beef in the company's supply chains has drawn the ire of farm organisations.

ICMSA president Denis Drennan said that farmers will be "very disappointed and angry" over the revelation.

"While the company has stated that no Brazilian beef was sold in Ireland in 2025, it clearly highlights the need for improved labelling and a public register of all companies who purchase third country beef across the EU," Drennan said.

The farm organisation leader said that the ICSMA has asked for an immediate meeting of the Bord Bia board to take place "so that the matter can be fully aired and a strategy agreed to ensure that third country beef is not being sold effectively based on the standards of EU produce".

"While we do acknowledge the level of transparency in this case, ICMSA is calling on all Irish companies and food outlets to commit to using Irish beef only and to support Irish beef farmers," Drennan said.

"We do think that it’s critical that consumers can be guaranteed that the beef they are purchasing is meeting the highest EU standards and we would envisage a public register of those companies importing third country beef so that everyone knows the origin of beef being supplied," he added.