Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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448. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding gaining access for Irish meat products such as beef, lamb and pigmeat to the USA; the remaining stages in the approval process outstanding; and the approximate timeframe for all stages to be completed and full access granted. [29926/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I was very pleased with the outcome of the Trade Mission to the USA last week, which allowed high level discussions at political and official level aimed at increasing access and trade.

Ireland already enjoys access to the US market in the case of beef and pigmeat and the trade in both these meats is developing well. Access for beef to the US market was restored in 2015, with Ireland the first EU Member State to achieve such access. Following this, ten Irish beef establishments have been approved over the past couple of years for the export of beef to the US. Two of these establishments have also been approved for the export of BIFG (beef intended for grinding) which gives them access to the lucrative US market for ground beef.  In the case of pigmeat, three Irish pigmeat processors are approved for the production of pork for export to the US.

At present no EU Member State has access for sheepmeat. There are a number of steps to be undertaken before access can be achieved. The next step is the publication by the US authorities of the "small ruminant rule" in relation to TSEs in sheep. While access cannot be achieved before publication, my department has completed a significant amount of preparatory work to ensure we are well-positioned once the rule is published by the USDA. The next key event is the USDA inspection visit to Ireland in September 2017, which will include inspection of some sheepmeat establishments.