Egypt removes remaining restrictions on Irish beef imports

The Egyptian authorities have removed all remaining restrictions to imports of Irish beef, according to Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan.

In November 2000, the Middle Eastern country suspended all beef imports from EU countries due to the BSE crisis.

A year later, the Irish Government convinced Egypt that Irish beef was safe and the market was reopened subject to certain restrictions.

Some of these restrictions were abolished two years ago and Ms Coughlan said today that the final barriers had now been removed, allowing for a resumption of full trade.

Ireland supplied Egypt with more than 150,000 tonnes of beef in the year before the initial ban was introduced.