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Turkey has approved a health certificate allowing export to that country of live Irish cattle. The approval decision was made known on Monday afternoon to the Department of Agriculture and welcomed by Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.
The development follows a number of exchanges between the veterinary and agricultural authorities in Ireland and Turkey which culminated in a visit here last month by two vets. The health certificate will allow Ireland export cattle aged under 12 months and weighing under 300kg and a quarantine period will operate before export.
However, it remains to be seen whether Irish exporters will be able to sell directly to Turkish importers. In recent weeks the Turkish authorities signalled that a switch would be made to central buying of live cattle by a state agency.
In a statement Minister Creed said he was pleased that Ireland has been listed by the Turkish Ministry for Agriculture as a country from which live bovines may be imported. “This follows pro active and detailed engagement by my Department with its Turkish counterparts and an inspection by a Turkish veterinary delegation in May.”
The Department is awaiting a formal confirmation from the Turkish authorities, both in relation to access and any conditions attaching to certification, he said.
Positive development for Irish livestock
IFA President Joe Healy welcomed the news as very positive development for the Irish livestock sector. “It will add much- needed competition to the trade for weanlings and younger stock,” he said.
“Turkey is a high volume live cattle destination, capable of paying very good prices,” he said. “It imported a total of 380,000 head in 2015, the majority from South America and up to 120,000 head from France. IFA has been pushing to get the live trade to Turkey open since last year.”
Ireland exported a total of 178,000 head in 2015. But at 84,000, Irish live exports are back 26,000 head year to date.
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