Scotland’s beef industry shared in a “small celebration” as the United States announced that it will finally reopen its gates to the import of European beef products.
The breakthrough comes 16 years after the US closed the door on trade relations with European meat producers, in January 1998 by imposing a ban on the grounds of BSE.
It also gives the UK red meat industry renewed access to a market worth an estimated £60 million.
The US Department for Agriculture first announced on Friday that it would step into line with scientific recommendations by the World Organisation for Animal Health, which date back to 2005, and resolve the long-running trade dispute by publishing new regulations which will reopen its market to EU producers.
Confirming the news yesterday, the European Commission said the reopening of the US marketplace is a “welcome, albeit late, step to abolish the unjustified ban and to re-establish normal trading conditions”.
EU beef was safe, it added, and the lifting of the US ban should send out an important signal to the other markets which remain closed to EU beef that it is time for them to reconsider their position.
The new US rules will come into force over the next 90 days.
“This is a massive breakthrough and one we keenly welcome the Scottish Government has been pushing hard for this for a number of years,” Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said.
“Scotch Beef is among the best in the world and its provenance is unrivalled, ensuring the highest standards and quality.
“I’m delighted that these long-standing trade barriers have been lifted,” added Mr Lochhead.
“Scotch Beef has been off the menu in the USA for far too long, and the reopening of an extremely lucrative market is a tremendous opportunity to expand our beef exports and one which I am keen for the industry to grasp.”
Sharing delight in the news, NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller added: “After a 16-year wait, this decision is worth a small celebration as it reopens access to a huge market for beef one where a premium product like Scotch could easily build demand.
“Scotch Beef has an enviable reputation worldwide, and to capture the likely enthusiasm for our beef in the USA we need plants here in Scotland to look at securing the necessary approval for exports to commence.”
Crucially, however, for the Scottish agricultural marketplace, the ban on the export of lamb and other iconic meat products such as haggis to the US remains in place.
Mr Lochhead commented: “We look forward to the USA agreeing to the resumption of imports of other Scottish products, and this deal on beef may well be an important step forward to achieving that.
“Of course, there are still a few technical details of this beef agreement to be ironed out such as heath certificates so it will be next year at the earliest before any export activity starts.
“So it vitally important to Scotland’s hard-pressed red meat industry that the UK Government and Owen Paterson start to put the necessary staff and procedures in place now to avoid any unnecessary delay.”
For his part, Mr Miller added: “The alignment of American and international standards on BSE must open the door to a similar decision on lamb being taken in the near future.
“This announcement also sends out a clear signal internationally on the safety of red meat being produced across the EU.”
farming@thecourier.co.uk