October 18, 2004

 

 

British Meat Plant Granted Beef Export License

 

A Somerset meat plant is the first in England to be granted an export licence for beef since the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, (BSE) or mad cow disease.

 

More than 80 countries in the world still ban British beef, but all European Union member states have lifted theirs.

 

Southern Counties Fresh Foods Managing Director Richard Phelps said he was confident of getting British beef back on menus worldwide.

 

"We are looking forward to these market places opening up," he said.

 

"We will, with our commercial team, be doing everything possible to get our product on a regular basis out into Europe."

 

Worldwide ban

 

He added, "It's not going to happen overnight. These things take 12 to 18 months. We will be doing everything possible to do that."

 

The British beef industry has suffered for more than a decade as a result of the BSE and foot-and-mouth crises.

 

In 1996, there was an indefinite worldwide ban on British beef exports.

 

All countries lifted this ban in 1999 except France.

 

After the EC threatened to impose huge fines, France finally lifted its ban in October 2002.

 

British beef started to be sold in Europe again from South Wales in 2002.

 

Mr Phelps said his plant is the first in England to be granted a beef export licence since the 1996 ban.