Bernard J. Durkan
Question:130 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number and location of new markets he has established for Irish beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26137/02]
Written Answers. - Beef Exports.
The EU market is open to Irish beef and has never been restricted. Following the BSE crisis in late 2000 there was a fall off in consumption levels and a consequent reduction in our level of exports to other member states. However, EU consumption has now recovered to within 2% to 3% of pre-2000 levels. This allows Irish exporters the opportunity to regain their presence on these important markets and I am pleased to say this is happening. Similarly, in the UK, exports this year will approach 250,000 tonnes which represents a huge improvement of our traditional sales to that market.
It is my policy and that of the Government that Irish beef should be free to enter any export market where exporters consider there are commercial outlets available. Where there are restrictions due to BSE, every effort has and will continue to be made at political, diplomatic and technical levels to have them removed. This effort not only involves my Department but also the Department of Foreign Affairs through its embassies as well as Bord Bia. Obviously, the primary commercial task of finding and exploiting markets is a matter for the industry. Equally, where markets have been reopened, it is for the industry to avail of the reopening and I have made this clear on numerous occasions.
As regards third country markets, the position is that following the BSE crisis late in 2000, many such markets imposed bans on imports of European beef. While it is clear that these restrictions were imposed Europe-wide against the background of a crisis in mainland Europe and did not adequately reflect the many levels of BSE controls in place in Ireland at the time, the net effect for Irish exporters was that almost all of our significant non-EU markets for beef, with the exception of Russia, were closed.
The decision by Egypt, which had been our largest market for beef, in October of last year to lift the ban on Irish beef imports was a welcome development for Irish cattle and beef sectors. All the technical/veterinary issues to permit trade resume have been agreed with the Egyptian authorities. The resumption of beef exports to Egypt is now a commercial matter for the industry. The recent introduction of a special EU export refund rate for Egypt, which is 30% above the normal level, should be of major help in allowing Irish exporters regain a strong presence on this important market. This refund was introduced following strong representations to the EU Commission. I have made it clear to the industry here that I believe a longer term perspective should be taken in relation to this particular market in view of its importance as a major importer and that the opportunity now presented by the reopening of the market and the introduction of an exceptionally high refund level should not be lost. I am hopeful that trade with the Egyptian market will resume early in 2003.
My Department, with the assistance of Bord Bia and our ambassador in Saudi Arabia, hosted a conference on food safety and consumer protection in the beef sector last October in Dublin aimed specifically at important markets in the Gulf region. The conference, which was attended by experts from the Gulf Co-operation Council's Food Safety Committee representing Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, afforded the visiting experts from those Gulf states the opportunity to assess the level and effectiveness of Ireland's BSE controls, and reaction to the conference was very positive. The GCC's Food Safety Committee will consider the report on the conference over the Christmas period.
We are also in ongoing contact with the South African, Philippines and Indonesian authorities at technical and diplomatic level with a view to having those markets reopened to Irish beef. Earlier this year, my Department hosted visits by delegations from South Africa and the Philippines and is following up on these markets. We have been in contact with the Indonesian authorities at political and technical level with a view to having an Indonesian delegation visit Ireland at the earliest opportunity.