Ministry to promote Majorcan lamb

The Balearic ministry of agriculture wants to promote the consumption of Majorcan lamb by setting up a quality label. This was announced by minister Mateu Morro during a dinner organised by the farmers' cooperative of Pollensa, who have set in operation an innovative programme of marketing lamb directly to restaurants. The ministry wants to use this system to try to regain consumer confidence after the recent epidemic of Blue Tongue virus which has decimated the flocks of sheep. The ministry will also try to obtain a competitive sales price which will benefit the farmers. The situation is causing concern as yesterday lamb was not even quoted on the Balearic farming exchange because of lack of demand. The minister said that the epidemic had been practically eradicated, and as it had been concentrated in the eastern part of the island, many farms had escaped its effects.