July 24, 2018

Japan opens up market for US sheep and goat

Japan has finalised technical requirements that will allow US sheep and goat exports into the country, for the first time after more than a decade, the US Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, announced.

"This new milestone achieved is a direct result of USDA's dedication to helping American farmers and ranchers find new markets for their products," Perdue said.

He added, "US has a reputation for high-quality agricultural products and this Administration is committed to helping US producers prosper and enable them to share these products with the world."

The agreement between the two countries materialised after extensive work by USDA technical staff with Japanese authorities to establish new terms for market access that are science-based and consistent with international public and animal health standards. These terms will permit US exports of sheep and goat meat to resume.

Last year, Japan imported US$169 million in sheep and goat meat, primarily from Australia and New Zealand.