September 25, 2020

 

Northern Ireland to restart beef imports to US after 20 years

 

 

Two Northern Ireland meat plants have been approved to export beef to the United States, essentially opening a market that has been closed for 20 years.

 

The approved meat plants are Foyle Food Group and WD Meats, based in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

 

Foyle Food Group and WD Meats are among the four establishments from the United Kingdom that have been permitted by US officials to export to the country following inspection visits last year.

 

The US closed its market to UK beef imports following an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease, in the UK in the mid 1990s.

 

An agreement between the UK and the US in March over equivalence in disease control standards led to the lifting of the ban.

 

For UK beef, the US market is estimated to be worth £66 million (US$84,169,470) in beef sales over the next five years, with the first shipment to start in the coming weeks, according to the UK government.

 

'Lift morale'

 

Northern Ireland's Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots said the move was "significant" and he welcomed it "wholeheartedly."

 

"This had been a very challenging year for our farmers, with many experiencing significant financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

 

"Therefore, the decision by the US authorities will be a real boost for our local beef farmers, not just in economic terms, but it will lift the morale of the sector."

 

The news was also welcomed by the Livestock and Meat Commission's chief executive, Ian Stevenson.

 

"The US is one of the largest consumer markets for beef in the world and, despite the impact of COVID-19 globally, we have seen that exporters in the Republic of Ireland have more than doubled their beef exports to the US in the first six months of 2020 worth over €21 million (US$24,495,450)," he said.

 

"The US market had performed strongly in the recent years, and being shut out had left local companies at a competitive disadvantage," said Conall Donnelly from the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association.

 

Donnelly said: "The resumption of exports would give Northern Ireland firms an extra option and the chance to build longer-term trading relationships."

 

- BBC