April 7, 2010

Taiwan widens door for US beef varieties

Taiwan recently approved eight categories of beef offal imports from the US, further expanding the potential growth of US beef exports into this key Asian market, according to the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Approved items include beef skirts and hanging tenders, which have enjoyed considerable success in Asia. Selected variety meat items, such as liver and kidneys, are not yet fully approved but are under consideration.

Kevin Smith, USMEF director of export services for the Asian markets, says Taiwan's latest expansion of access for US beef is very positive news for the industry. Last year, Taiwan set a new value record for imports of US beef at US$141.2 million, up 11% from 2008. The market has also been off to a strong start in 2010.

"We reached an agreement late last year to expand access for all products that is consistent with the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) guidelines recommended for trade. Once the negotiation was complete, we established a process for expanding that access," said Smith.

While skirts and hanging tenders represent the big-demand items in Taiwan, the US is trying to gain approval for variety-meat items that can provide further growth like kidneys and liver, which categories are still yet to be defined, he added.

US had been exporting deboned muscle meat to Taiwan for the last several years. In October 2009, both countries reached an agreement that allowed bone-in beef cuts back into the market for the first time in more than six years.