Donal Moynihan
Ceist:9 Mr. D. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the measures being taken to reopen markets for meat and livestock exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4274/02]
Written Answers. - Export Markets.
It is my policy and that of the Government that everything possible is done to ensure that Irish livestock and meat producers have unrestricted access to all of our important markets worldwide and no effort is being spared to bring this about.
The situation now with EU markets is that beef consumption in the EU as a whole is steadily recovering from the serious collapse which took place in late 2000 due to a restoration of confidence in the product as a result of measures taken at EU level. Also, the market support measures put in place to deal with the overhang of product on the market have had a useful effect in helping to restore balance. I am satisfied that all of this will help Ireland's efforts to regain our former levels of sales to these markets.
On the question of third countries, many of which imposed bans on EU beef following the BSE crisis in mainland Europe, efforts at political, diplomat and technical level are continuing to secure the reopening of these important markets. My Department, together with the Department of Foreign Affairs and An Bord Bia is working intensively to emphasise to the authorities in those markets the guarantees in relation to food safety we can offer to consumers of Irish beef. Particular attention was given to Egypt, which had been our largest single market for beef exports and, as the Deputy will be aware, this strategy proved successful in regaining access to this significantly important market. We were also successful in reopening the Russian market in the aftermath of last year's foot and mouth crisis.
Particular attention is also being focused on the Gulf region which is a significant market for Irish beef. A senior veterinary official of my Department visited the region last year to brief the relevant authorities on our BSE situation. Our ambassador to Saudi Arabia has also kept in very close contact with all the important countries in the region. A further visit by a senior delegation from my Department is being arranged at present and meetings have been sought with the appropriate authorities. Renewed invitations to visit Ireland are also being issued to the authorities in question.
Technical delegations from South Africa, Algeria, Indonesia and Japan have also been invited to visit Ireland to assess for themselves the quality of the controls in place in Ireland with regard to livestock and meat production. I visited South Africa last year for discussions on the reopening of the beef market there. I am pleased to say that a Japanese delegation will visit Ireland next week with a view to reopening the important pigmeat market there which was closed to Ireland as a result of the FMD crisis last year. I am confident that visit will be followed by other delegations in the near future.