Exports to US welcomed

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed earlier this month that it has amended the small ruminant rule (SSR) which prevented imports of lamb from the UK into the USA.

This amendment will come into force on 3 January 2022 and follows an easing on restrictions on UK beef exports earlier this year.

The SRR previously restricted access to the US market for all sheep meat from the UK, as well as a number of other countries including Canada and EU member states, all of whom will now benefit from this amendment.

Worldwide, the UK exports £436million worth of sheep meat per annum, with this deal expected to be worth around £37million over five years to the UK market.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister Poots said: “I am delighted that the US has granted approval for the UK to export lamb to their markets.

“It is a clear endorsement of the rigorous standards we, in Northern Ireland, have in place to produce our high-quality, safe and wholesome meat. This news provides another major boost to the Northern Ireland agri-food industry and to the wider economy.”

Mr Poots continued: “My department continues to invest much time and energy into opening new markets to expand the Northern Ireland agri-food industry and this opens up a fantastic opportunity for local farmers, who are rightly credited for the quality of the food they produce. This is a clear signal of, not just this, but also the standards of our animal health and welfare and of our care for the environment.”

He added: “I will continue to do all I can to promote Northern Ireland’s food and its producers, both locally and at international level, and to help build our reputation as a world class food region. This is brilliant news for Northern Ireland’s food industry, and I look forward to our exports being able to commence shortly.”

UFU deputy president, William Irvine, stated: “Its great news that America’s ban on UK lamb exports will come to an end very early on in the New Year. Our Northern Ireland farmers produce quality sheep meat products farmed sustainably on our iconic landscapes, to some of the highest environmental and animal welfare standards in the world. We’ve been waiting a long time for the ban to be lifted, allowing us to showcase our fantastic product in the American market. It’s a great opportunity and has the potential to provide positive returns to the NI sheep industry. We are now looking forward to getting our NI Farm Quality Assured lamb, reared from pasture-based farms and packed with healthy nutrients, shipped to the USA for their residents to enjoy. We urge our UK government and meat processors to work closely so that the process can proceed without delay,” Mr Irvine ended.