HCC welcomes step forward on USA lamb exports
Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has welcomed the announcement by the UK Government Minister George Eustice of the latest step forward in opening up the USA to lamb exports.
A delegation from the USDA discuss lamb exports earlier this year at HCC’s headquarters in Aberystwyth. L-R: Prys Morgan (HCC head of operations), Dai Davies (HCC chairman), Stan Phillips (USDA), Gwyn Howells (HCC chief executive), Steve Knight (USDA).
The American market has been closed to lamb from Britain for 20 years, however work has been ongoing to re-establish the trade.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has now published consultation proposals which pave the way to the lifting of import restrictions on red meat from Britain.
“The news that the United States Government is pressing ahead with a consultation on bringing its rules on animal health in line with other countries is very welcome,” commented Gwyn Howells, chief executive of HCC.
Over 30% of PGI Welsh Lamb is exported and a new trade deal with the US could be worth up to £20 million a year, Howells said.
“Reopening the American market is something that we’ve been working hard on for a number of years,” he added. “We’ve commissioned research which has shown that there is a potential demand for high-quality PGI Welsh Lamb in the American market – particularly in retailers and foodservice clients on the east coast.
“The domestic lamb industry in the USA has been in decline, therefore there’s certainly room for exports. For Wales alone, this trade could be worth up to £20 million a year.
“We await the result of the US Government consultation, and some formalities regarding inspections of facilities will need to be undertaken. But this is undoubtedly a positive development.”
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