Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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423. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the manufactured beef products exported to the United States of America on an annual basis in the 2015 to 2017 period by volume and value in tabular form. [11230/18]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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424. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the volume and value of exports of beef, lamb, pigment and dairy product to the USA on an annual basis over the period 2015 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11231/18]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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426. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the original value and volume targets his Department put on beef exports to the United States of America for 2015, 2016 and 2017; the actual value realised in each such year for such exports; and the amount of Irish manufacturing beef and ground beef which has been permitted to enter the market in the United States of America on annual basis during this period. [11233/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 423, 424 and 426 together.

In order to provide a breakdown, as requested, it is necessary to use Central Statistics Office (CSO) trade statistics. The following table provides all the Beef, Pigmeat and Dairy exports for each of the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 to the USA, in both value and volume terms. Ireland does not currently have sheep meat access to the USA.

In view of the volume of statistical data collected as part of agri-food trade statistics, some errors in respect of individual products may occur.  Where these anomalies are identified, the Department will liaise with the CSO to highlight and amend the information as required.  

In relation to beef, according to the CSO exports have increased from under 1,000 tonnes in 2015 to over 1,500 tonnes in 2017. Ireland was the first EU MS to secure market access to the USA for beef in January 2015 and was the first Member State (MS) to export beef to the USA. In July 2016 Ireland received approval to send Beef Intended for Grinding (BIFG), also known as manufacturing beef to the US.

CSO data is classed by CN (Combined Nomenclature) codes in line with EU requirements and data on manufacturing/ground beef is not available. However, it can be seen from the data that the majority of beef exports, around 90% in 2017, were comprised of frozen bovine boneless beef and frozen edible bovine offal. Ireland does not have market access to the USA in terms of processed beef, which may also be called manufactured beef. Therefore exports of these types of products did not occur.

The role of my Department is to open new markets and maintain existing markets for Irish food exports and overall targets are set out for agri-food exports in Foodwise 2025, in terms of an increase to €19 billion by 2025. However, volume and value targets are not set on a country or commodity basis. My Department works very closely with the meat industry but once a market has been opened trade arrangements are left to individual companies and exporters and the actual trade volumes will vary depending on a range of factors such as currency flucations, global supply and demand, and local and international factors.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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425. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress on gaining access for Irish meat products, that is, beef, lamb and pigment 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. [11232/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The USA was the second biggest destination for Irish food exports in 2017 after the UK. Irish agri food exports to the USA have more than doubled from around €520 million (85,000 tonnes) in 2012 to €1.125 billion (190,000 tonnes) in 2017.

Ireland was the first EU Member State to be granted beef market access to the USA in 2015. In July 2016, my Department received approval to send Beef Intended for Grinding (BIFG), also known as manufacturing beef to the US. 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 BIFG. According to the CSO, beef exports have increased from under 1,000 tonnes in 2015 to over 1,500 tonnes in 2017.

Sheepmeat exports from the EU to the US are currently banned due to the presence of TSE in certain EU Member States. Sheepmeat access to the USA will depend in the first instance on the USA lifting its TSE ban on EU Sheepmeat. The Food Safety Inspection Service of USDA visited Ireland in September 2017, primarily on a beef and pigmeat inspection, but they also visited 2 Irish sheepmeat plants. My Department submitted a sheepmeat questionnaire (SRT) in 2017 in preparation for the lifting of this ban and continues to raise this issue with US officials, both as part of the Trade Missions to the USA and with visiting US officials to Ireland. However, it is not possible to predict a timeline for sheepmeat market access to the USA.

Ireland has enjoyed uninterrupted access to the US market for raw pork since 2001 and a total of 3 plants are approved for the export of raw pork to the USA. Pigmeat exports to the US have increased from €8 million (4,100 tonnes) in 2012 to €19.0 million (4,860 tonnes) in  2017.