Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1342. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the review of existing export markets in which conditions of certification present barriers to trade or additional costs for exporters will be completed. [38451/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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A desk review of the conditions applying to the export of meat to the various third country export markets has been carried out by the market access unit. Those conditions which went beyond the normal conditions which apply in the European Union were highlighted.

Following this exercise, my Department successfully negotiated with the competent authority in a number of third countries the removal of barriers.

For example, the requirement to test cattle aged over 72 months for BSE when supplying the South African market was identified as a barrier. The removal of this condition was successfully negotiated with the South African authorities.

In another case, the Singaporean authorities agreed to accept deboned beef from animals of all ages and bone-in beef from animals aged less than thirty months. Previously they would only accept deboned beef from animals aged less than thirty months.

This review of technical barriers is an ongoing process which includes consultation with industry.

My Department's aim is to negotiate veterinary health conditions for the export of meat and meat products to third countries that do not place an unacceptable high burden on Irish meat exporters.