Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 March 2017
519. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress on gaining access for Irish meat products, that is, beef, lamb and pigment to South Korea; the remaining stages in the approval process outstanding; and the approximate timeframe for all stages to be completed and full access granted. [15470/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has enjoyed market access to the South Korean market for Irish pigmeat for a number of years. A certificate was originally agreed before 2000 but has been amended since then. A number of meat establishments are approved to produce pigmeat for export to South Korea and in 2016 exports of around €11 million, or 5,000 tonnes, took place. My Department also hosted a successful pigmeat and dairy re-inspection visit from Korean officials from both the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA) and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) during 2016.
As regards beef, market access to South Korea is a high priority for the market access unit. My Department has completed a number of detailed questionnaires for the South Korean authorities over the years. We also received a visit from an inspection team from QIA in May 2016, who carried out a systems audit on our controls on beef production. The visit went well and they are finalising their report at present. Once their report is completed it would be signed off in Korea by both internal and external professional/technical advisory members before being brought to their Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), of which QIA is part.
The approval process for South Korea is complex and there are a number of stages to complete, many of which take place in South Korea. However, we are satisfied that we are making significant progress.
As regards sheepmeat market access, we have not yet commenced the process with the South Korean authorities as this has not been identified as a high priority by the industry. For example in 2015, according to the OECD, sheepmeat consumption in South Korea was only 0.2 kg per capita compared to 9.6 kg per capita for beef and 28.4 kg per capita for pigmeat.
