Libya has prohibited the import of both cattle and beef from all European Union countries since the outset of the BSE crisis in March 1996.
Since that time, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Agriculture and Food have kept in regular contact with the Libyan authorities. Libyan veterinary officers came to Ireland in 1997 to assess the animal health situation in this country.
According to the latest information available, the tendering process for the supply of cattle in 1998 has not begun in Libya and the number of cattle sought has not yet been specified. However, in view of the excellent quality and high meat yield of Irish cattle and the declining incidence and insignificant number of BSE cases in Ireland, I hope that the Libyan authorities will lift their restrictions so that Irish cattle exporters can bid for the 1998 contracts.
I have personally written to the Libyan Minister for Foreign Affairs, inviting him to send a delegation of senior officials to Ireland to discuss any remaining obstacles to the resumption of the trade, and I look forward to the early arrival of such a delegation.
