October 26, 2010

Turkey imports beef to curb rising meat prices

In response to high red meat prices, Turkey has so far allowed import of 80,000 tonnes of beef, Turkey's agriculture minister Mehdi Eker announced.

Meat prices have become stable one week after launch of beef import and then started to decline, he said.

Turkish government allowed red meat import as a short-term measure against high prices, Eker said, adding that the major goal was to take long-term steps to make use of Turkey's potential in cattle dealing.

The global meat price rose 23.5% in the first seven months of the year, and 15% in the US. In Turkey, the price hike was about 14%, he stated.

"Part of price hike was caused by unregistered meat market," Eker said.

He added that Turkish authorities had taken necessary measures to ensure healthy red meat import, imposing requirements for tests and inspections as part of the procedures.