For the first time in over 20 years, UK businesses are now eligible to export beef to the US market – an achievement owed to the ongoing process of negotiations between the UK Government, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, and industry groups.
Back in March 2020, when the Government began negotiating a UK-US free trade agreement, the US agreed with the equivalence of standards on the UK’s disease control measures – after a three-week inspection took place in the summer of 2019.
The ability to export UK beef to the US, which is recognised on an international level for its quality, origin and traceability enable British farmers a £66 million worth of export opportunities.
The first four food businesses eligible to export their beef to the US, as listed by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service, are as follows:
- Foyle Food Group Limited (Foyle Campsie, Northern Ireland)
- Granville Food Care Limited (Northern Ireland)
- WD Meats (Northern Ireland)
- Kepak Group Limited (Merthyr, Wales)
Meaning their production and exportation for US consumers can begin, which is estimated to happen within the following weeks.
Hopefully, more UK businesses can get on board within the next few months.
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