ICMSA welcomes mission to Egypt

Egypt: ICMSA president Pat O’Rourke has welcomed a decision by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan to send a delegation to Egypt to review arrangements for the beef and cattle trade between the two countries.

The department said Ms Coughlan is committed to easing the conditions of entry to the Egyptian market so that shipments in commercial quantities can continue this year.

Mr O’Rourke said the Egyptian market was worth €150 million to the Irish beef sector in 1999, taking more than 110,000 tonnes of product. The live export trade - at its peak in 1994 - took 255,000 head of cattle from Ireland but it ceased in 1997.