Ireland hopes to export beef to the Chinese market

Ireland officially receives BSE Minor Risk status. The chances of opening more EXPORT markets for Irish beef are increasing.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) status has now been officially reinstated in Ireland. This was announced by the Dublin Department of Agriculture at the end of May following the recognition of the Assembly of Delegates of the World Organization for Animal HEALTH (OIE), which adopted a resolution at its 88th General Assembly.

Department HEAD Charlie McConalog welcomed the decision and said he was pleased with the restoration of the lowest possible risk status the country could achieve. He sees this as a testament to Ireland's strict controls on animal health, food and feed safety. At the same time, it is a testament to the commitment, experience and dedication of all those who over the years have made great efforts to control and eradicate the disease, he stressed.

According to him, the next step in this process is to give practical and legal force to the OIE decision at the EU level. McConalog expressed hope that this announcement will open up new trading opportunities. Irish Farmers Association (IFA) Livestock Technical Committee Chairman Brendan Golden hailed the new status as "a welcome recognition of the standards of work and production on Irish farms". He urged McConalog and the government to redouble their efforts to ensure the immediate return of Irish beef to the Chinese market.