Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 May 2019
114. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress on obtaining access for Irish meat product such as, beef, lamb and pigmeat to South Korea; the remaining stages in the approval process outstanding; and the approximate timetable for all stages to be completed and full access granted. [23169/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTotal Irish agri-food exports to South Korea in 2018 amounted to around €36.1 million according to the CSO. The majority of this, some €27 million, was accounted for by fish & pigmeat exports.
The process of gaining access for Irish beef has been ongoing for a number of years and Ireland is currently at step five in an eight step process for beef market access. The next step should be transmission of the file to the Nation Assembly. This matter will be raised as a priority issue during my forthcoming trade mission, which will take place in the week commencing 10th June. As with other markets, the timing of access to the Korean beef market remains ultimately the decision of the Korean authorities.
In relation to pigmeat, trade is ongoing and there are no particular issues around pigmeat access. According to the CSO, exports of €13.77 million (6,193 tonnes) took place in 2018. This compares with Exports of €8.3 million (3,174 tonnes) in 2017, and represents an increase of around 95% in terms of tonnage.
In February 2018, my officials wrote to the South Korean authorities requesting access for sheepmeat. This matter will also be raised during my forthcoming trade mission.
Further details of Irelands access to third country markets can be found on my Department's dedicated market access portal.
http://www.marketaccess.agriculture.gov.ie/
