Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2004
183 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his plans for the development of the beef sector having particular regard to the emergence of new competitors to the marketplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5341/04]
View answerThe EU is now a net importer of beef. Consumption levels now exceed pre BSE levels and are forecast to rise further. Production levels on the other hand are in decline. The EU beef market is moving into a period of continuing deficit and is estimated to have an import requirement of 400,000 tonnes in 2004.
Irish beef returned a strong performance last year in European markets while the volumes being exported to Third Country markets were helped by a good recovery in trade to Russia. The United Kingdom remained the principal market for Irish beef, accounting for over half total exports at 265,000 tonnes. Exports of beef to Continental EU markets increased by 30 per cent during 2003 to an estimated 150,000 tonnes or 30 per cent of total exports.
The introduction, at my request, by the EU of a special export refund facilitated the re-opening of the Egyptian market to Irish beef. I also made considerable efforts throughout 2002 and 2003 to secure the re-opening of other third country markets, in particular the Gulf States, South Africa, Indonesia and the Philippines, all of which had imposed an import ban on beef from the EU. My Department and Bord Bia hosted veterinary and food safety experts from the Gulf States including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE in relation to the safety of Irish beef. Follow-up action to re-open these markets continues.
I believe there is a strong determination within the beef sector to meet the challenges under the new regime arising from the Luxembourg agreement. Irish beef faces strong competition from South America in particular, to retain and expand market opportunities. In this regard the industry needs to intensify its focus on both quality and price in order to improve its international competitiveness and sharpen its appeal to consumers. The increase in our exports in 2003 to the high value EU Continental markets is indicative of our success in this area.
