Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has urged sheep processors to “redouble their efforts” to meet the specifications required to supply sheepmeat to the US.
He said that “all we can do at a policy level is open up the markets and make them available”, but that it is up to the sheep industry to take the opportunity.
“The American opportunity is one we worked hard to develop and while they are not per head a big sheepmeat eater, compared to the European average, the scale of the market is €300m,” he said.
The Minister was speaking on the lack of processor applications to supply to the US, despite Ireland gaining access to the market last year.
Solution
Minister of State Martin Heydon said the specifications required by US import officials were not feasible for Irish sheep processors initially, but that a solution is almost ready.
Minister Heydon said Irish sheep factories are looking at having a US day, where they would slaughter and process as the US requires.
He said the US specifications are very detailed and that the requirements of other markets have to be taken into account.