Irish beef to increase presence in the Japanese market

Minister of State for New Market Development Martin Haydon announced an agreement had been reached with the Japanese authorities on the EXPORT of minced Irish MEAT and processed meats.

Following the completion of negotiations between Irish officials and their counterparts at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of HEALTH, Labor and Welfare of Japan, Minister Haydon said: “I am pleased to report that we have successfully changed the conditions for issuing an export health certificate for beef products, allowing the export of minced meat and beef burgers to Japan.”

This expansion of access follows the removal of age restrictions for livestock from which export beef is produced, established in May 2019. 

Speaking of recent developments, the minister said: “This is good news for Irish beef exports and reflects the warm and productive relationship that has developed with official and trade contacts since the appointment of an agricultural attaché at the Irish Embassy in Tokyo in 2019 and the posting of a Market Specialist. Bord Bia in Japan.

Irish agri-food exports to Japan in 2020 were over €147 million, up €14.6 million or 11% from 2019. The European Trade Agreement with Japan, which entered into force on February 1, 2019 as the largest open trade area in the world, provides an excellent opportunity to expand trade in food and beverages with Japan.

Exports of Irish beef to Japan increased from 2,323 tons in 2019 to 4,120 tons in 2020, increasing in value from €9.5 million to €15.7 million over the same period. These were mainly beef tongues, a delicacy in Japan, and other beef offal. An agreement to allow Irish ground meat and hamburgers to enter Japan should help Ireland increase sales, thanks to the ease of shipping these products and Ireland's reputation as a supplier of beef hamburgers in the foodservice channel.