With confirmation last week that NI beef has received approval for export to the Philippines, it will probably take a few weeks for export health certificates to be agreed, allowing exports to actually start this autumn.

The formal announcement last week applies to beef from here and Britain, which has been excluded from the Philippines’ market since the days of the BSE ban of 1996.

About 10 years ago the local beef industry started to tentatively explore the possibility of getting back into the market.

That work intensified in the last few years, particularly around the time that the Republic of Ireland gained access to the Philippines with beef, sheep and pigmeat in 2014, having been excluded as a result of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001.

Inspectors

Inspectors from the Philippines visited NI last November, following on from a visit in the opposite direction by DAERA officials, alongside Defra counterparts, in 2015.

According to Conall Donnelly, the chief executive of the NI Meat Exporters’ Association (NIMEA), credit must go to the various government officials in getting approval over the line.

“To be fair, DAERA veterinary officials did some sterling work, building relations, facilitating visits and getting the necessary paperwork in place,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal.

He maintains that the Philippines’ market represents a significant opportunity for the NI beef industry.

It is a market short of beef, with a growing population and a growing economy. Our members are keen to do business.

With a population of around 104m people, the Philippines is the 12th largest country in the world.

Pork is the most popular meat, with consumption around 14.2kg per head per year, followed by poultry at 11.6kg and beef approaching 3kg.

Most meat is sold fresh in traditional markets, and the product of backyard production systems. However, supermarket retailers are slowly growing in popularity, and able to deliver a more consistent offering, using frozen meat imports.

Importers

Australia is the main importer of beef, with the Republic of Ireland also now with a strong foothold in the market.

In the first four months of 2017, the Irish exported 6,658t of manufacturing beef to the Philippines, 20 times what it exported to the USA in the same period.

Beef imports to the Philippines are mostly manufacturing beef, such as forequarter, flank and trimmings. There might also be an opportunity for NI factories to sell some fifth quarter cuts.

According to Defra, access to the Filipino beef market for UK factories could be worth up to £34m over the next five years.

Tariffs

The Philippines is a member of the World Trade Organisation, and currently applies a 10% rate of duty or tariff on beef imports.

That is a considerably lower tariff rate than it applies on other meat imports that it classes as “sensitive”, such as pork and poultry, which generally attract a 30 to 40% rate.

The UK currently has approval from the Filipino authorities to export pork, lamb and poultry.

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