November 7, 2007

South Africa welcomes Irish beef anew after lifting BSE plan

South Africa has lifted its seven-year ban on beef from Ireland and finally opened its market to Irish beef.

South Africa closed its doors to Irish beef in 2007 due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis. Prior to the ban, South Africa's beef imports from Ireland averaged 18,000 tonnes and valued at 57 million euros.

Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, welcomed the decision by the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, Lulama Xingwana.

The market, she said, is being re-opened under the conditions recommended by South African experts who visited Ireland last April.

The Minister added that Irish veterinary experts and their counterparts in South Africa had worked intensively on the technical documentation to facilitate trade and agree the necessary Veterinary Certificate.

She said that senior veterinary officials from both sides had discussed detailed proposals for exchanges of skills and personnel to share best practice and experience in facing common challenges in the food industry.