Despite beef factories in NI hosting a ‘‘dry run’’ of a US Department of Agriculture inspection at the end of 2014, in preparation for what they hoped would be the real thing by mid-2015, the actual process of getting into the US market with NI beef remains frustratingly slow.

That frustration was not helped last week by the announcement that the Republic of Ireland has become the first country in Europe to secure access for manufacturing beef (mince and burgers), which follows on from market access granted in 2015 for intact cuts of Irish beef.

While the Republic now has full access, NI remains closed out of the US market.

Part of the issue is that the NI application is subsumed into a wider UK approach, with Defra seeking full approval for beef (intact cuts and manufacturing beef) and also lamb. In April, Defra secretary Liz Truss visited Washington to make the case. Around the same time, the UK submitted a 1,000-page dossier to the US Department of Agriculture, detailing the safety and quality of British beef and lamb.

During a meeting with Secretary Truss, her US counterpart, Tom Vilsack committed to study the paperwork, ahead of agreeing a timetable for inspections of UK beef and lamb processing operations. It means that progress with gaining market access is in the hands of the US authorities.

On enquiry, the chief executive of the NI Meat Exporters Association (NIMEA), Conall Donnelly acknowledged that progress had not been as fast as everyone would have liked. “It is still progressing and we remain fairly positive, but obviously there is work still to be done,” he said.

He also pointed out that given the vote to leave the EU, and the need to secure new market access, the protracted nature of these trade deals highlights how vital it will be to have properly resourced teams in London working on such agreements.

In terms of access to the US market for beef and lamb, it now looks like it will be 2017 at the earliest.

It should also be acknowledged that the US beef market is no longer as financially attractive as it was, with US prices back to European levels. Slightly over a year ago, US prices were ahead of Britain. However, with the value of sterling falling against the US dollar in recent weeks, it highlights that the market opportunity will depend on the currency exchange rate prevailing at the time.

Also, what the Irish have proved is that it is one thing gaining market access, but another finding customers, shipping product, and meeting various testing requirements. In particular, the testing requirements around manufacturing beef look to be onerous.