THE National Farmers' Union has applauded a decision by the European Parliament to throw out plans to include the sex of beef on meat labels.

Deputy president Tim Bennett said the NFU was pleased that this "extreme suggestion" had been discarded. "The proposal would have added huge production costs on to the meat industry without benefiting either the farmer or the consumer. I am delighted MEPs have acknowledged this."

The NFU supports the EU's labelling proposal but opposes the category that would require beef labels to state whether the cut of meat was from a bull, heifer, steer or cow. The proposal must still be dealt with by the European Commission and the Agriculture Council of Ministers, which meets on July 17.