Frozen beef market to be reopened
Ms Coughlan said this development, which follows the reopening of the Algerian market in October 2004 for fresh and chilled Irish beef, is a further strong signal of international confidence in Irish beef.
Ireland exported some 70,000 tonnes of beef to Algeria from 1995 to the suspension of exports in 2000.
Following the reopening of the market in October it is reported that a steady trade has resumed in fresh product.
Ms Coughlan said the potential for export of frozen products will help traders to compete with other suppliers of frozen product to the Algerian market. “Ireland’s wide-ranging controls in the cattle and beef sector and our international food safety reputation were instrumental in achieving this further breakthrough.
“The agreement reached with the Algerian authorities was a further positive step towards the consolidation of important Third Country markets for Irish beef,” she said.
Ms Coughlan said a very substantial shift in beef exports to the higher priced EU market in recent years has been very welcome.
The availability of non-EU international markets, however, represents an extremely important outlet in which Ireland has a long and established record of consistent supply.
Meantime, the ICSA has urged the minister to set up an ongoing meat forum to facilitate co-operation between farmers and processors in the development of markets for beef and lamb.
