Vol. 535 No. 1
232 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he, in conjunction with Bord Bia, has, prepared a marketing strategy to regain markets lost due to the BSE and foot and mouth disease problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11957/01]
At the beginning of this year, I asked Bord Bia to present a strategy for regaining beef export markets lost as a result of the BSE developments elsewhere within the EU. This strategy was presented and my Department and Bord Bia has been in regular contact since then in relation to the approach to be adopted for specific markets. Approaches have been made to reclaim all our markets and in some cases officials of my Department have travelled to meet their counterparts in the countries in question. Developments in relation to foot and mouth disease have presented further problems in relation to export markets, not only for beef but for pork products. Export markets for milk have been largely maintained following the FMD outbreak, based on the provision of heat treatment certification by my Department. No effort is being spared by me or my Department, along with Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs, through its embassies, to re-open any market which has closed to Irish products.
