Coveney trade mission marks lifting of US embargo on beef

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has begun a major trade mission to the US to mark the lifting of the US embargo on Irish beef.

Beef from the EU has been off the menu in the US since it imposed a ban at the height of the BSE crisis more than 15 years ago.

Mr Coveney along with representatives of Bord Bia and the industry will attend promotional events in New York, Washington DC and Boston targeting high-end customers in the foodservice and retail sectors.

Attendees will be served beef from the two Irish plants – ABP Foods and Foyle Meats – already approved for export.

Initial market access has been granted for primal and sub-primal cuts of beef only, which accounts for a relatively small segment of the US import market. Access to the more lucrative manufactured beef market, however, is still to be agreed. The latter accounts for 70-80 per cent of the 1.3 million tonnes of US imported beef.

“As part of this ongoing engagement with the US, discussions with Food Safety Inspection Service are continuing on the detailed technical requirements for trade in beef intended for manufacturing,” a department spokeswoman said.

“The department is working with industry here on putting in place measures to meet a number of US technical requirements so that this trade can commence as soon as possible.”

Meaty schedule

Mr Coveney’s trip kicks off with a media launch in New York at the Consulate General of Ireland 's office followed by an event in Daniel’s – a Michelin- starred restaurant in Manhattan.

On Tuesday, he will travel to Washington DC to address the World Bank and the School of International Studies at John Hopkins University before attending another launch at the Irish Ambassador's residence.

The final leg takes place in Boston on Wednesday with an event in the upmarket steakhouse Smith and Wollensky’s.

“This visit to the US represents a huge opportunity to promote Irish beef in one of the most valuable markets in the world,” Mr Coveney said. “We are visiting now to quickly build on the momentum generated by the US announcement last month that Ireland is the only EU member state approved for access there. This confers a real first-mover advantage on Irish beef which we will be exploiting to its fullest next week.”