Lifting of bans herald a worldwide boost for UK beef and lamb exports

Just last week AHDB representatives attended Japan’s Foodex trade show, after the country lifted its longstanding ban on UK beef and lamb. Working alongside Quality Meat Scotland and Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales – we showcased premium cuts of UK beef and lamb to demonstrate its high quality and versatility to key influencers in the Asian marketplace.

Japan is a major importer of beef, with growing demand for high quality lamb. The lifting of the ban, which was announced in January, is estimated to be worth almost £130 million over the first five years of gaining market access.

Exports play an important part in making sure beef and sheep producers get the best prices for their livestock and help find markets for parts of the carcase for which there is little or no demand at home. Opening up and expanding the market to non-EU countries is really important with the uncertainty around the impacts of Brexit.

AHDB plays a key role in working alongside the government and others to get access to different markets and we support industry in this country to help implement these specific requirements and standards required by third country markets.

We have an export team who manage a full programme of overseas events and trade shows to maintain demand for UK beef and lamb in existing export markets and help us gain access to new ones. These trade shows play an important role in boosting exports of red meat by ensuring that quality products from the UK are at the forefront of buyers’ minds around the world.

Last year we saw China lifting its ban on exports of beef from the UK, in a landmark move estimated to be worth £250 million in the first five years alone. It follows the ban more than 20 years ago in the wake of the BSE outbreak.

AHDB is now working closely with the UK supply chain and supporting government in technical negotiations, including site inspection visits by the Chinese authorities, to agree the conditions that will allow shipments to commence at a future date.

People in the Philippines now have UK beef back on their dinner plates after an export deal was agreed, worth around £34 million over five years. And in December it was announced that India is preparing to open its market to UK sheep meat.

We will continue to explore the opportunities available and support the UK beef and lamb industry by promoting the quality tasty meat we produce in this country. In a time where there is great uncertainty in the EU market it is vitally important we gain access to new markets and strengthen the ones we are already part of.

Clive Brown is AHDB Beef and Lamb Head of Regional Development