This is a subscriber-only article
Egypt has given the green light for Irish beef exports to resume, a potentially lucrative outlet for 2017.
Five Irish plants have been approved under an agreement reached between Egyptian authorities and the Department of Agriculture.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands Kildare Chilling, Dunleavy Meats and Liffey Meats in Ballinasloe, Hackettstown and Ballyjamesduff are the five plants. Ireland last sent beef to Egypt in 2000, exporting 100,000t of beef worth almost €300m.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said: “I am delighted to see the Egyptian market reopened for Irish beef, given the size of the potential market there.”
Egypt is the largest consumer market in the Middle East and north Africa, with around 95m consumers.
Egypt was the eighth-largest beef importer in the world last year, importing 340,000t.
The Irish deal includes approval for beef offals and limited approval for particular types of sheepmeat products and follows the opening of live cattle exports to Egypt in February 2016.
IFA president Joe Healy has called for Minister Creed to lead a major international diplomatic initiative to maximise every single market opportunity for live exports in 2017.
In Feburary 2016, the market for live cattle into Egypt was opened.
SHARING OPTIONS: