Saudi beef market to reopen

A TEAM of experts from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is to visit Ireland to inspect food safety and animal health controls with a view to re-opening the Saudi beef market.

Three officials from the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Industry along with one from the Ministry of Agriculture will arrive in Ireland on Sunday for a weeklong visit.

This follows a trade mission to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, led by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, earlier this year in which Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan participated.

Ms Coughlan said the discussions she had in Saudi Arabia on Irish food exports in general and beef exports in particular were “very positive”.