Richard Bruton
Question:70 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of live cattle and quantity of beef exported to Russia since June 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3959/03]
Written Answers. - Beef Exports.
There have been no exports of live cattle to the Russian Federation since June 1997. However, over the period June 1997 to the end of 2002, 253,000 tonnes of beef has been exported to that country. Exports in the year 2002 alone were of the order of 83,000 tonnes, a level which was only surpassed in 1996 and which makes Russia the largest individual market for Irish beef after the UK.
Dan Neville
Question:71 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the percentage of imported beef which is re-exported after processing. [3982/03]
Of the approximately 11,000 tonnes of beef imported annually into this country the majority of EU beef originates or transits the United Kingdom. Included in these imports would be product exported from Ireland, which was subsequently re-imported for technical-commercial reasons and the re-importation of beef that had been exported to the UK for cutting up or processing. In this regard it is worth noting that Ireland exported a total of 445,000 tonnes of beef in 2002 of which 245,000 tonnes went to the UK.
Beef originating in non-EU countries may be imported into the EU on payment of import tariffs or under certain agreed preferential quotas operated under the WTO. A condition of entry to the EU is that the beef must meet all EU veterinary and hygiene standards. These imports are largely used for further processing in the convenience food sector, as pizza topping, meat pies, or lasagne and are subsequently exported.