This article is from page 40 of the 2008-07-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 40 JPG
THERE could be some welcome news on the horizon for Clare beef farmers with indications last week that Saudi Arabia might be on the verge of opening it’s borders to Irish beef once more.
Irish beef exports have been banned from the Middle Eastern country since the first outbreak of BSE around Europe in 2000. However, recent ef- forts by Irish politicians, including an official state visit by then Minis- ter for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan
last June, coupled with a consistently improving BSE record has made the reopening of trade a real possibility.
So much so that last Wednesday, Clare TD and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Kil- leen expressed confidence that Irish beef exports to Saudi Arabia will resume in the near future.
His comment follows an announce- ment by his ministerial colleague Brendan Smith, Minister for Agri- culture, Fisheries and Food, that an
agreement has been reached on ex- port conditions for Irish beef going to the Middle East.
‘Agreement in principle to resume exports was reached in October 2007 and was subject to the approval of plants and export conditions,” said Minister Killeen.
“This was followed by a visit by a veterinary delegation from Saudi Arabia in March this year to inspect plants and discuss the terms under which exports could take place. In the meantime there have been related contacts and discussions between the
two countries.”
The junior agriculture minister said that the agreement paves the way for the resumption of beef exports to this important and valuable market.
The Saudi Arabian market was closed to Irish beef following the disclosure of BSE in Europe in 2000. Exports in the previous year amount- ed to 25,000 tonnes, which is valued at an estimated €33 million to Irish farmers.
Minister Killeen added the agree- ment indicated “an international confidence in our product”.