Dep Michael Kitt has welcomed this week’s announcement that the Moroccan market has been reopened to Irish beef and cattle, saying the move is “good news” for cattle farmers after a 15-year hiatus in trade with the north African country.
“The Irish cattle market has been closed to Ireland for almost 15 years and its reopening is good news for local cattle farmers in County Galway,” Dep Kitt said. “A certificate which allows the export of live cattle from Ireland to Morocco was agreed by both countries last month, and a veterinary health certificate for the export of Irish beef to Morocco was ratified this week.
“Irish beef from animals aged under 48 months will now be allowed into Morocco without BSE testing, and beef from animals over 48 months, which have tested negative for BSE, will also be approved. This is the same testing regime which applies to beef exports destined for the EU.
“The Tunisian market was reopened to Irish beef in April as well, and a veterinary health certificate has also now been agreed which will allow the export of sheep meat from Ireland to Tunisia,” Dep Kitt added.
“These two moves are very good news for local cattle farmers and they come after reopening of the Chinese and Russian markets for pig meat, the UAE market for beef, and the South Korean market for breeding pigs. The food sector is vital for the farming industry and the economy as a whole and I am glad that such positive progress is being made to develop more outlets for local producers.”
