Approval given to export lamb to Saudi Arabia
Lamb exports to Saudi Arabia have been given the green light in a deal that could be worth £25 million over the next five years.
Saudi Arabian authorities have this week lifted the ban on sheep meat from the UK, following a detailed process to gain access to this new and lucrative market.
Exports of lamb could begin as early as next month once export certification is finalised and released.
The agreement comes following ongoing negotiations and inspections carried out jointly by Defra, AHDB, the Food Standards Agency, UK Export Certification Partnership, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in the Northern Ireland Executive and Animal and Plant Health Agency.
AHDB international market development director, Phil Hadley, said: “This is great news for the sheep industry and for lamb processors and producers in the UK who are keen to look at new, non-EU markets.
“The announcement is the result of ongoing and detailed work between all parties and is a testament to the high regard and quality of UK lamb.”
The news follows an agreement to progress lifting the BSE ban on UK beef exports to China, following the Prime Minister’s visit to Beijing earlier this month.
Back in January, manufacturing beef from the UK also gained approval to be exported to the Canadian market, following ongoing negotiations for a number of years.
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