When the World Organisation for Animal Health, known by its abbreviation OIE, reclassifies Ireland to its lowest defined BSE risk status, we will be on a par with Australia, New Zealand, the US and the big South American exporting countries.

One of the great problems with the BSE legacy in the beef trade was the series of dates that were arbitrarily put in place below which it was deemed BSE wasn’t a risk. One such example was Hong Kong stipulating a 30-month age limit for UK beef.

For Ireland, the frustration is around retailers that put a 30-month limit in their specs. SuperValu and Tesco were highlighted by the IFA last week as the chief offenders. Both these supermarkets jockey for top position in Irish food retailing and Tesco holds the position as leading retailer in the UK with a 28% market share despite recent difficulties. This means these are important customers for Irish beef and the IFA’s ambition to achieve a 36-month age limit for cattle rather than a 30-month limit would need them on board.

This will be a challenge. Industry sources have told the Irish Farmers Journal that they have done what they can to persuade Tesco to relax its 30-month limit, but without any success to date. In fact, Tesco has a 28-month limit for its premium Finest and Aberdeen Angus ranges.

Of the other big UK-based supermarkets that take Irish beef, ASDA is the most flexible, with a 36-month age limit.

Sainsbury’s is more of a mixed bag, with a 36-month limit on its prime cuts range. However, any product that goes into its manufacturing suppliers, such as pies, must be under 30 months.

The most immediate benefit to Ireland of the new negligible risk status is that we join the elite group of countries with this status, and it should make international sales easier.

Supermarket customers can no longer use BSE risk as an excuse for having a 30-month limit or lower in their specifications, but they remain to be persuaded.