Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1345. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress on gaining access for Irish beef, lamb and pigmeat products to the United States; the outstanding stages in the approval process; and the approximate timeframe for all stages to be completed for full access to be granted. [38454/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland was the first EU Member State to be granted beef market access to the USA in 2015. A total of 10 Irish plants have been approved for the export of raw intact beef to the US, of which 2 are also approved for beef intended for grinding (BIFG). This enhances our ability to export beef to the US, where a very significant demand exists for beef that will be minced and turned into beef burgers.

Sheepmeat exports from the EU to the US are banned due to the presence of TSE in certain EU MS. Access to the USA will depend on the USA lifting its TSE ban on EU sheepmeat. The final TSE rule has not been published as yet but my Department and I have raised this issue with the USDA on a number of occasions including as part of the Trade Mission in June this year. The sheepmeat questionnaire (SRT) was completed by my Department and submitted during August 2016 in preparation for the lifting of the ban.

Sheepmeat access to the USA is a high priority for my Department and the sheepmeat industry. An encouraging development is that the Food Safety Inspection Service/USDA inspection visit to Ireland in September 2017 will include visits to Irish sheepmeat plants. However, timelines for access are not possible to predict.

Ireland has enjoyed uninterrupted access to the US market for raw pork since the end of the FMD outbreak in 2001. A total of 3 plants are approved for the export of raw pork to the US. We previously also had access for treated or processed pork products. However, this access lapsed earlier this year as no exports had taken place within the preceding three year period.