April 26, 2007

Saudi may re-open market for Irish beef

The Ireland agriculture ministry welcomes the planned inspection of beef experts from Saudi Arabia to inspect Irish food safety and animal health controls in a possible re-opening of the Saudi beef market.

This follows the successful Irish trade mission in January to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) led by An Taoiseach during which the Ireland Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, had discussions with the Saudi Arabian authorities.

Coughlan said that while more than 90 percent of Irish beef production was exported to EU markets in 2006, it was most important to the Irish beef industry to have the greatest number of high quality world markets such as Ireland's recognition of stringent controls in food safety and animal health in strict markets, particularly in the Middle East.