Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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177. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of discussions he has had at European Union level or with the Iranian authorities regarding the possible export of beef to Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49507/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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A bilateral agreement was concluded on a health certificate for the export of beef from Ireland to Iran in March 2013. Irish beef exports to Iran had previously been banned due to BSE. However, Ireland now has access to export fresh chilled and frozen boneless beef, derived from animals under 30 months at slaughter, although no exports have taken place as yet.

An official-led trade mission to Iran took place in April 2016; this mission was an important step in gaining sheepmeat access to Iran, which was agreed later in 2016.

Commissioner Hogan met this month with the Iranian Ministers for Agriculture, Mr Hojjati, and Minister for Health, Mr Hashemi as part of his Trade Mission there. The Iranian authorities have announced that Iran will adopt a single health certification system for exports from all EU Member States. This single certification system will be issued at first to those Member States which are currently authorized to export, such as Ireland, and will then be extended to include all EU Member States. The changes are expected to be introduced in the first half of 2018.