Pigmeat company Rosderra Meats today confirmed that it has placed 850 workers on protective notice '"with immediate lay-off'"as a result of the current meat contamination scare.

The company, which has plants in Edenderry, Roscrea, Clara and Stradone, said it had no alternative because of the uncertainty in the industry caused by the recall of all Irish pork products.

Earlier Monday, the SIPTU union said that up to 6,000 jobs in the pig industry were at risk.

The Irish Association of Pigmeat Processors members have not been slaughtering Monday as the organisation said that its members need a massive financial package to help them cope with the recall of pigmeat. The processors say they may need up to €1 billion from the Government because all of the recalled product will come back to them.

IAPP Director Cormac Healy said:"IAPP members want to get back into production. We are eager to get Irish product back onto the shelves, but companies need an immediate cash flow injection."

They say that legally they cannot buy a pig at the moment because they cannot quantify their financial exposure.

The National Consumer Agency has confirmed that consumers are entitled to be refunded on pork meat and products containing pork purchased from retailers after the 1st of September.

Chief Executive of the National Consumer Agency Anne Fitzgerald stated, “Under legislation consumers are entitled to repair, replacement or refund of a faulty product. In the case of pork meat or other food products containing pork, consumers are entitled to a refund as a repair or replacement does not apply in this instant.

While in general, consumers should have proof of purchase the NCA urges all retailers to be reasonable, particularly where products which are only sold by that retailer are concerns,” concluded Ann Fitzgerald.

Meanwhile, Breeo Foods, which markets the pork brands Galtee, Shaws, Roscrea and Barcastle, says it has implemented an immediate plan to temporarily to source "safe, traceable pork meat" from EU countries outside Ireland.