Processors welcome Saudi beef agreement

THE MEAT processing industry has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, of enhanced access for Irish beef to Saudi Arabia.

The agreement, which follows high-level discussions between Minister Creed and Saudi officials, will give greater access to processed and cooked meats.

In a statement, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) said progress on any international market access was welcome and that the latest announcement would help some companies to develop their business into the region.

However, the industry body pointed out that the 30-month age restriction that existed on Irish beef exports to Saudi Arabia remained a difficulty.

“The Gulf States were an important outlet for high quality Irish beef in the past but trade over the last decade had been extremely limited due to the restrictive nature of certification conditions, in particular the requirement that beef must only come from under 30 months cattle,” an MII spokesman said.

Minister Creed is leading an Irish agri-food trade mission to the Gulf region. Yesterday, the minister met with two of Saudi Arabia’s leading dairy companies, Almarai and Al Safi Danone. The meetings focused on areas of further cooperation with Irish companies.

“In 2016 Saudi Arabia was the seventh highest global destination for Irish dairy exports and accounted for over €130m of exports,” Minister Creed pointed out.

“Saudi Arabia is a major market for our dairy exports and I am very pleased to note that dairy exports to Saudi Arabia have increased by almost 40pc in the period from 2012 to 2016,” he added.