Coveney’s visit will help convey quality of Irish beef to American market
The quality and safety of Irish beef has been key in the US decision to allow Irish beef imports according to Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/East Carlow and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Andrew Doyle.
“Getting access to the US beef market, the world’s largest, shows the benefit of producing high quality beef. The higher end of the US beef market is focused on grass fed beef, an area in which Ireland has a real competitive edge. That we are the only European country to have been given access to the US beef market since the BSE crisis speaks volumes for the quality and safety of Irish beef.
“As a beef farmer myself, it is heartening to see Ireland being rewarded for the quality of its beef. With American consumers becoming ever more aware of what goes into their food, I believe that the US demand for high quality Irish beef can only increase.
Foremost among the considerations of the Americans was the safety of Irish beef and the need to meet the growing demand in the US for ‘green’ or grass fed beef. Our cows are for the most part, raised on excellent quality grass and are not given hormones.
“Minister Coveney has indicated strongly that he does not foresee any other EU countries being given access to the US beef market for at least one year. This gives the Irish beef sector a chance to get a significant foothold in the US market ahead of its European competitors if and when individual European States do get access to the US market.
“I commend Minister Coveney for going out and highlighting the quality of Irish beef to the American market. Last year was an extremely challenging one for the beef industry but with the new beef pricing system coming into place combined with Irish beef being sold today’s announcement, 2015 has gotten off to a very good start.
“I want to commend the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, for the work carried out by him and his Department over the last two years in helping to bring this about. As Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, I met with the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack during his visit here last July. I look forward to Irish farmers benefitting from this renewed relationship with the US.”