NI beef exports resume after 10-year EU ban

Northern Ireland farmers are today beginning to resume the exportation of beef to Europe after the lifting of the 10-year ban, which was imposed after BSE was discovered in the UK.

Representatives from the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) have travelled to Brussels to welcome the welcome arrival of the first shipment of local beef and to kick off a new campaign to promote Northern Ireland beef.

Commercial deliveries to European butchers and supermarkets are due to recommence with in the next few days.

The local farming industry are expecting the recovery period to take some time.

UFU President Kenneth Sharkey said that when the ban was imposed, no one thought that it would still be in place a decade later.

He said: "For the first time in 10 years, we as farmers in Northern Ireland can market our products the same as other European farmers."

Before the European ban on British beef, around 80% of local beef was exported and it is estimated that millions of pounds in revenue was lost during this period.

The lifting of the ban, which was imposed to prevent the spread of mad cow disease, will see the exporting of live cattle as well as meat and meat products resuming.

This means that live cattle, born after 1 August 1996 can now be exported, as can beef from cattle slaughtered after 15 June, 2005.

DUP MEP Jim Allister is today attending events in Brussels to mark the long awaited lifting of the beef ban.

Mr Allister said: "Today we reach an important starting point in re-establishing Ulster beef in the European marketplace.

"Our product will not let us down, I trust our marketing will be as good and the success which our producers deserve will be achieved. It is also important that exports are now not strangled in unnecessary red tape, but that competitive access is assured."

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said today that the beef industry in Northern Ireland can take a great deal of satisfaction from the resumption of live cattle and beef exports and look forward to the future with increased confidence.

Also speaking from Brussels, Mr Nicholson said: “After many false dawns over the years, on what has been a long and arduous journey towards the lifting of the beef ban, I look forward to attending the event in Brussels tomorrow with other farming leaders to help re launch Northern Ireland beef in Europe.

“Whilst the celebrations are well deserved everyone knows that it will take time to rebuild the export success that Northern Ireland’s beef industry has had in the past. A return to markets will not happen overnight, especially with competition from cheap South American imports.

“This is where we need the Government to help our farmers market Northern Ireland beef abroad.”

Officials in Europe agreed to waive the ban as cases of BSE dropped in the UK.

(EF/SP)