Ever resilient beef recovers from setbacks

BEEF markets in Europe have resiliently recovered to nearly match the consumption levels of 1999, before a series of BSE scares decimated sales.

According to Bord Bia, the recovery in Italy has helped to boost Irish exports to the Mediterranean country to within 70% of pre-BSE levels. In Italy, consumption is forecast to increase this year by more than 8%.

This recovery has led to a 19% increase in Italian beef imports, but their total imports still remain some 16% behind pre-BSE levels.