Increased access for Irish beef as well as hopes for sheepmeat access to Saudi Arabia were the big results from this week’s trade mission to the Gulf States.On Sunday, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed announced that “enhanced access for Irish beef to Saudi” had been secured, following talks with the executive president of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Professor Dr Hisham Saad Aljadhey.
Increased access for Irish beef as well as hopes for sheepmeat access to Saudi Arabia were the big results from this week’s trade mission to the Gulf States.
On Sunday, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed announced that “enhanced access for Irish beef to Saudi” had been secured, following talks with the executive president of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Professor Dr Hisham Saad Aljadhey.
Irish beef processors already have access to the Saudi market. The agreement announced on Sunday means that processed, cooked, minced and bone-in beef can also be shipped to Saudi from Ireland.Beef access was granted again in 2012. The volume of beef shipped to Saudi in 2015 was 1,100t, with a value of €3.5m.
Minister Creed and his officials were unwilling to place a figure on the volume of beef they hope could be shipped to Saudi this year.
Listen to an interview with Minister Creed in our podcast below:
Listen to "Creed on the benefits of trade missions for farmers" on Spreaker.
Following the same meeting, Minister Creed told the Irish Farmers Journal that Saudi officials had asked the Irish delegation to supply details with regards to getting the process started for opening up the sheepmeat market too.
“We were invited, upon request, to pursue the sheepmeat market in Saudi Arabia. This is a significant market and we look forward to pursuing that market,” Minister Creed said.
Irish lamb tastes different to local lamb, as the Irish product has a higher fat content, and there would appear to be interest in the product.
Buyers in Saudi would require Irish lambs to be finished entirely on grain for six weeks to be market-ready.
Listen to an interview with Bord Bia chief executive Tara McCarthy in our podcast below:
Listen to "Wins on Tara McCarthy's first trade mission" on Spreaker.
The Gulf States trade mission, led by Minister Creed and Bord Bia, ran from Saturday 25 February and continues until Friday 3 March.
Brexit challenge
The impending Brexit weighed heavily on the shoulders of the travelling Irish officials this week. At every speaking engagement, Minister Creed spoke of the need to diversify Ireland’s markets for agri-food exports.
“We need to be creative with new markets, especially in the context of Brexit,” the Minister said at a visit to the Ornua Al Wazeen cheese plant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The €20m plant is getting close to being fully operational and is serving customers.
What we know about Saudi beef deal:
The deal covers processed, cooked, minced and bone-in beef from Ireland.The beef must be halal slaughtered, which is imperative for Muslim countries.The beef must be from animals under 30 months.Currently Dawn Ballyhaunis and Liffey Meats in Ballyjamesduff have approval to send beef to Saudi. Read more
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