Day 078 - 26 Jan 95 - Page 39
1 Q. Do you know whether Vesty's in Brazil had any relation or
2 made use of any beef from King Ranch?
3 A. I have no knowledge of that whatsoever.
4
5 Q. You do not know?
6 A. No.
7
8 Q. You said yesterday: "Ever since we have been in the EC we
9 have basically only been able to use beef from the economic
10 union. There are one or two exceptions; that being balance
11 sheet beef and LOME agreement beef"?
12 A. Yes.
13
14 Q. Do you mean there they are EC approved beef as opposed to
15 beef from the economic union?
16 A. Unless it is under a specific scheme. Since we have
17 been in the economic union only meat available reared
18 within the economic union is available to a meat processor
19 in Europe. There are one or two schemes which I have
20 alluded to which are available, but they have all got
21 technicalities which make it difficult to obtain. It is a
22 very complicated subject.
23
24 Q. You were trying to persuade McDonald's to buy beef from
25 Botswana. That is what Mr. Oakley told us when he was
26 giving evidence?
27 A. We have bought meat from Botswana, yes.
28
29 Q. You have?
30 A. Yes, and very good beef it is.
31
32 Q. Right, and what scheme was that?
33 A. That is under the LOME scheme.
34
35 MR. JUSTICE BELL: How do you spell that?
36 A. It is L-O-M-E.
37
38 MS. STEEL: When were you buying beef from Botswana?
39 A. From memory, up to about 1984 but that is from memory.
40 I would rather check that fact.
41
42 Q. Up to 1984?
43 A. Yes.
44
45 Q. Have you been discussing using Botswana beef more recently?
46 A. Yes.
47
48 Q. You have?
49 A. Yes. Can I explain that?
50
51 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Could you just pause? The LOME scheme
52 Botswanan beef up to 1984, did that go to McDonald's
53 outlets?
54 A. Yes, sir.
55
56 Q. Or not?
57 A. I would like it buy Botswana beef but McDonald's do not
58 want me to Botswana beef. So, I buy Botswana beef for
59 other customers but, I assure you, it does not go anywhere
60 near McDonald's.
