Japan takes back Irish beef in €12m deal

Beef — including offal — has been added to Japanese imports from Ireland that include pork, seafood, and dairy.

Japan is to reopen its market to Irish beef for the first time since the outbreak of BSE in a deal expected to be worth around €12m a year to be agreed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo later today.

Mr Kenny, who is leading a trade mission to Japan, said it is an “ideal time” to develop closer business links between Ireland and Japan, with a particular emphasis on the agri-food sector.