Pre-listing is a fasttrack way of qualifying slaughterhouses interested in selling beef to Saudi Arabia.

Under the scheme, the health authority of the exporting country checks the meat. The importing country may at any time carry out audits to verify standards.

Under the agreement, Brazilian Minister for Agriculture Katia Abreu expects greater flexibility and less bureaucracy in order to begin sales “as soon as possible”.

The industry estimates that opening the Saudi market represents an export potential of 50,000t of meat per year. The decision was sealed on Monday during a meeting between Katia Abreu and CEO of the Saudi Authority for Food and Drug Administration Dr Mohammed Al-Meshal.

The end of the embargo on Brazilian beef in Saudi Arabia also paves the way for the opening of markets in all Gulf countries.

Saudi Arabia had suspended Brazilian beef imports in 2012 in the wake of an unusual case of BSE.

Partnership

“Saudi Arabia was one of the last countries missing. Next will be Japan, where we should open our market for processed meat,” added the Brazilian minister.

This will be in direct competition with EU beef, with EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan recently identifying Japan as a priority target in his efforts to open new markets.

The ban on Irish beef exports to Saudi Arabia was lifted in 2013, after a BSE embargo had been in place for a decade.

According to Bord Bia, Saudi Arabia could become a good niche market for Irish beef.

However, Halal slaughtering may prove to be a stumbling block for Irish producers.