The first two factories in NI are now approved to send beef to the USA.

The latest certified list published by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) includes both WD Meats in Coleraine and Foyle Meats in Campsie. They are joined by only one beef processor from Britain – the Kepak-owned St Merryn Meats based in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales.

With individual factories now finally approved for export, it marks the end of a long process of regaining entry after the US banned all beef from the EU in 1998 due to BSE.

A total of 11 beef factory sites in ROI now have approval to export beef

In early 2015, US authorities indicated that they would progressively start to lift the ban, but it took until March 2020 for the US to agree “equivalence of standards” with the UK on disease control measures.

The first EU member state to get individual factory approvals was the Republic of Ireland (ROI) in 2015, with the Foyle Food Group site in Donegal among those initially listed. A total of 11 beef factory sites in ROI now have approval to export beef.

So far in 2020, it has been a relatively good year for Irish exports to the US

However, it has taken time for the Irish to establish a foothold in the US market, with volumes up when US beef prices are high, but the market opportunity limited in times of low domestic prices.

So far in 2020, it has been a relatively good year for Irish exports to the US. From January to June 2020, a total of 5,160t of beef from the EU has been exported to the US, up 47.4% on the same period in 2019. It is understood that most of this is Irish beef.

Reaction

Commenting on the confirmation that NI factories have now been listed, Conall Donnelly, the chief executive of the NI Meat Exporters’ Association (NIMEA) described it as “very welcome news” for the NI beef industry. He pointed out that the local industry has been working on the issue since 2012-2013.

The more markets we can access, the better

“It is an opportunity to secure new customers and build new relationships. We have seen times in the recent past (such as the first half of 2020, and in 2014) when the US market was very attractive for exporters, and we missed out as we had no access. This ensures we can avail of opportunities when they arise. The more markets we can access, the better,” he said.

Initially it is understood that the main opportunities for export are offal products and beef trim.

The US has free trade agreements with the likes of Canada, Mexico and Australia, allowing beef in tariff-free. Other countries tend to get lumped together, with an annual quota set allowing a certain amount of beef in at low tariff rates. When the quota is exceeded, high tariffs apply.

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