Written Answers. - Export Markets.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
66
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Agriculture and Food
the extent to which he has established new markets for Irish beef, lamb or pigmeat; if this involves the revival of any previous markets; if such a programme exists in respect of such markets; the extent to which negotiations have taken place or are likely to do so in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20846/02]
It is my policy and that of the Government to ensure that Irish exporters have unrestricted access to markets worldwide and efforts at diplomatic, political and technical levels have been made and continue to be made by my Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bord Bia to bring this about.
Following the BSE crisis late in 2000, many third country markets imposed bans on imports of European beef. It has been my experience that where restrictions on Irish exports of beef exist because of concerns about BSE, the most effective way of addressing this has been to underpin political and diplomatic pressure by demonstrating in practice to the relevant experts from those countries the controls throughout the sector. This approach was adopted successfully in relation to Russia and Egypt and is being continued with regard to a number of other potentially significant markets.
My Department, with the assistance of Bord Bia, recently hosted a conference in Dublin on food safety and consumer protection in the beef sector aimed specifically at important markets in the Gulf region. The conference, which was attended by veterinary and food safety experts from 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 I am pleased to say that reaction to the conference has been very positive. 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.
Exports of lamb last year were marginally up on the previous year's levels. France is the principal export market for Irish lamb, with over 80% of Irish exports destined for that market. Marketing efforts are continuing with Portugal, Italy and Spain and as peak demand in these markets is for the Christmas period it is expected that returns from those markets will increase at that time. Lamb exports to Germany and Belgium have maintained consistent levels. All markets to which Irish pigmeat has traditionally been exported are currently open. Japan and Korea were reopened this year following protracted negotiations aimed at lifting the bans imposed because of foot and mouth disease. Other countries such as Hong Kong, South Africa, USA and Russia were brought back before the end of 2001.
My Department is engaged in attempting to negotiate access to new markets such as China and Australia. The extent to which such countries are willing to engage in such negotiations or to accept product varies, as do the procedures to be followed in each case. I am conscious of the importance to the pig industry here of having access to as wide a range of markets as possible and to this end my Department will continue to pursue this issue with all countries offering realistic prospects for trade.
