Turkey opens for beef

A VETERINARY agreement last week cleared the way to allow export of Irish beef from animals aged 30 months or under, to Turkey, subject to certain conditions.

The Turkish market recently re-opened to EU beef after 14 years, and many member states have been in negotiations with the Turkish authorities on certification.

Turkish beef output dropped about 5% from 2000 to 2009, while the population grew by 14%, to nearly 75 million. Turkish authorities responded last October by reducing the import tariff duty for beef and lamb carcases from 225% to 30%. This triggered imports of about 22,000 tonnes of beef in two months.