UK businesses cleared to export beef to US
21st September 2020
Four UK businesses have been cleared to export beef to the US for the first time in 20 years, Defra has confirmed, marking a ‘significant step’ in collective efforts to restart exports.
Four UK businesses have been cleared to export beef to the US for the first time in 20 years, Defra has confirmed, marking a ‘significant step’ in collective efforts to restart exports.
The move follows an announcement in March, that access to the US market had been granted. Now, the first four businesses, based in Wales and Northern Ireland, have been officially listed by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service, as eligible.
As a result, Kepak Group Limited (Merthyr) in Wales, along with Foyle Food Group (Foyle Campsie), WD Meats and Granville Food Care Ltd. in Northern Ireland, can now start production and export of UK beef for US consumers.
It is thought the first exports will take place in the coming weeks. Defra says it expects that other UK food businesses will be able to benefit from this new opportunity in the coming months.
Further details will be shared in the coming weeks, as eligible businesses complete the final stages of the export process.