British pork exports in hot demand

By Philip Clarke in Cologne

EXPORTS of British Pork, which have been given the go-head for the first time since the start of foot-and-mouth, are in hot demand in Germany.

Orders came rolling in from international meat buyers as they descended on the Anuga food fair in Cologne on Monday (15 October).

Spanish buyer Marino Martinez, who used to take 20 tonnes a week for the Madrid market, said he was eager to resume the trade in fore hocks.

Mr Martinez said he had been forced to turn to Dutch and French suppliers this year. But his preference was strongly British, he added.

He said he did not anticipate much consumer resistance to British products – especially now that BSE was more widespread in Europe.

Paul Cheale of Cheale Meats confirmed that orders were being taken. His processing plant used to ship 400t of cull sows to Germany each week.

While volumes should be slow to start, Mr Cheale said he believed they would reach 200-300 tonnes each week by the middle of November.

Officials from Britains Meat and Livestock Commission predicted that the resumption of export trade would help domestic pig prices move up.

The UK exported over 200,000 tonnes of pork a year worth over 150 million before exports were banned due to foot-and-mouth in February.

It is believed that about half the countrys pig production will be eligible for export when the first shipments go out from 22 October.

• Pigmeat exports to re-start, FWi, 10 October, 2001
• Foot-and-mouth export ban, FWi, 21 February 2001
• Brussels to ban British meat exports, FWi, 21 February, 2001