Special refund rate for beef exports to Egypt
The special refund rate is on average 22% above the normal refund for beef exports and in the case of some cuts is as high as 30%. The new rates apply from October 6.
Mr Walsh said the announcement was the final piece of a complex set of elements aimed at bringing about a full resumption of commercial trade with Egypt.
It followed on a decision by the EU Beef Management Committee in Brussels yesterday and last week’s decision by the Egyptian authorities to loosen the conditions for trade.
He said there were now neither technical nor commercial reasons to prevent the full resumption of trade.
Minister Walsh urged the industry to move swiftly and work towards the immediate resumption of trade with its Egyptian partners, particularly in the short period ahead of Ramadan.
This was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of a traditional period of demand in that market, said Mr Walsh, who discussed the need for the special refund increase with Commissioner Franz Fischler in Sicily last weekend.
Minister Walsh said the increase would compensate for the higher veterinary and processing costs involved in exporting beef to Egypt and should, as a result, make Irish beef much more competitive on that market.
Mr Walsh said he hoped the restoration of the trade to Egypt could be a catalyst to the re-opening of other non EU markets.
The Irish Meat Association said Minister Walsh's success in securing the special refund is an essential component in re-establishing Irish beef exports to Egypt.
The IFA and the ICSA also welcomed the Minister's announcement.
