Far East market reopens to beef

A MARKET for Irish beef that was worth in the region of €15.25 million when it was closed eight years ago is to be reopened.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Brendan Smith announced yesterday that the Philippines removed a ban on the importation of Irish-European Union beef.

The ban was put in place in November 2000 following the BSE crisis in Europe at the time. More than 12,000 tonnes of Irish beef had been exported to the Philippines in 1999.

Mr Smith said his department has been working consistently since then with the help of Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs to have the market reopened.

Last September, a delegation from Ireland representing these bodies travelled to the Philippines and presented a seminar on the safety of Irish beef which was very well received.

And in May this year Ireland succeeded in gaining controlled risk status, regarding BSE, from the OIE, the World Animal Health Organisation.

“This reflects the success of the comprehensive measures implemented in Ireland to control BSE and confirms the safety of Irish beef in that regard,” he said.

Mr Smith said the reopening of the Philippines to Irish beef represented another breakthrough in regaining markets closed because of BSE.

It would provide a welcome additional outlet for Irish beef on the world market, he said.