Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 5

Written Answers. - Beef Markets.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

99 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of previous beef markets lost through the BSE scare which have been restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4351/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

As the largest exporter of beef in the northern hemisphere, Ireland has been particularly badly affected by the current BSE crisis in Europe, although the factors which precipitated the recent crisis have been outside of our control. As a result of a general ban on European beef, almost all of our traditionally important non-EU markets are closed to us at the present time.

The task of recovering export markets is based very much on a restoration of confidence in the safety of our product based on a full appreciation of the low level of BSE in Ireland, the way in which it is dealt with, the effectiveness of the many layers of controls, checks that are in place and the endorsement of Ireland's handling of BSE by the EU Commission and its standing scientific committee. In many cases, particularly in non-EU countries, the situation has been exacerbated by media reporting on BSE, much of which is ill-informed, and, in particular, on BSE developments in those countries which have recently encountered their first cases.

My Department along with An Bord Bia is exploring every avenue with regard to the re-opening of these markets to Irish beef. Egypt, which is our most important market, purchased some 157,000 tonnes of Irish beef in 1999 and some 113,000 tonnes in the January to September last year. I and senior officials of my Department travelled to Egypt last December and met with the Egyptian authorities in Cairo in a effort to secure restoration of this market for Irish beef. The Taoiseach also spoke by phone with Egyptian President Mubarak on this matter. Senior officials of my Department returned to Egypt this week to continue discussions on a technical level. With regard to Saudi Arabia, a senior official of my Department travelled to Saudi Arabia earlier this month to brief the Saudi authorities on the BSE situation and the level of controls in place in Ireland. A downturn in beef consumption in Europe has compounded the problem.

My Department is in constant contact with the relevant authorities in all of our other important markets, both directly and through diplomatic channels, to emphasise to them the level of BSE controls in place in Ireland and to point out the assurances we can offer in relation to the safety of Irish beef. We are also drawing attention to the very significant fact that our SRM (specified risk material) and MBM (meat and bonemeal) controls have been in place for a number of years; that they have been implemented effectively and that these measures have stood up to scrutiny by the EU scientific steering committee. It is clear that a restoration of exports to these markets is linked to an easing of the concerns in those third countries about BSE at EU level.