Partial lift of US ban on EU meat cheers markets
Partial lift of US ban on EU meat cheers markets
By Philip Clarke
EUROPEAN meat markets got a boost last weekend with news that the US is to reopen its borders to sales from some member states.
The US imposed a blanket ban on EU meat on Mar 13, after the spread of foot-and-mouth disease to France, Ireland and the Netherlands from the UK. The move put a block on sales which last year topped 73,000t, with a value of $251m (£177m).
"The decision acknowledges the huge efforts the EU has made to control the spread of F&M," said food safety commissioner, David Byrne. "Throughout we have called upon our trading partners to respect the international principle of regionalisation."
In keeping with this, US agriculture secretary, Ann Veneman, has decided to maintain trade restrictions on the UK, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Greece, which are not considered free of F&M.
The return of the US market has been particularly well received in Denmark, which accounts for over half the EU trade. Last year it shipped over $180m (£129m) of pork across the Atlantic, mostly spare ribs.
Ireland has also been celebrating the reopening of several former export markets, even though it is still excluded from the US. This week saw the return of Italy to the list of buyers for live cattle, a move described by farm minister, Joe Walsh, as a "very important step towards normalisation of our cattle and beef export trade". Last year Italy imported approximately 60,000 live cattle and an early resumption of this trade will help stabilise the autumn market.
The move follows last weeks decision by Spain and the Lebanon to start taking live cattle again. Spain was the main buyer of Irish calves, taking about 180,000 head last year, out of 310,000 head total exports.
Russia has also reopened its borders to Irish beef and pork, closed in March in response to F&M. Last year this outlet took over 21,000t of Irish meat, worth Ir£30m (£23m).
Farming organisations have welcomed the moves, though the real challenge, they say, is to reopen the Egyptian market, closed in response to BSE. This accounted for about 150,000t of beef, equivalent to 450,000 head of cattle, says the Irish Farmers Association.
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association has also called for an early resumption of live auction marts, to help assemble cattle for shipment abroad. The Department of Agriculture in Dublin has said marts may only start up again from June 18. *