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Food safety inspectors from USDA are to visit Ireland in September as part of the process for gaining market access to the US for Irish sheepmeat.
Speaking on the first day of the Irish trade mission to the US, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said: “We have agreed dates in September for an inspection visit by USDA Food Safety Inspection Services. We already have beef and pigmeat access to the US, I hope that we will be able to progress access for sheepmeat.”
The first day of the trade mission was used to meet figures in the new US administration in Capitol Hill. Minister Creed met Ray Starling, special assistant to the US president on agriculture and trade, and Irish department officials met with staff from the US Food Safety Inspection Service and with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
“Relationships built at political and official level will be critically important in the context of developing commercial opportunity for Irish agri-food companies and for building a closer trading relationship with the US into the future,” said Minister Creed.
A Bord Bia reception is being held on Monday evening at the Irish embassy residence, where Minister Creed is to announce a new marketing initiative for Irish beef in the US.
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