Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that 12 businesses in England and Northern Ireland have gained approval to export pork products to Mexico in a deal worth £19m.
Twelve businesses across England and Northern Ireland have secured access to Mexico’s expanding pork market following dedicated negotiations with Mexico led by Defra, including Food Standards Agency, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and industry partnerships, with support from the Department for Business and Trade and the FCDO.
Defra has said that the deal creates a “pathway for additional opportunities” in the lucrative market, where consumption has grown by 5.4% annually between 2019 and 2024, with tariffs set to disappear, and notes that British pork stands out globally for its “exceptional quality and strong welfare standards”. Industry estimates expect the deal, which is part of the Government’s Plan for Change, to bring in £19 million over the first five years.
The 12 businesses have approval to export products, including favourites such as pork chops, and will also be able to export offal and edible by-products, bringing British pig farmers a return on parts that are less popular in the UK. Defra states that sustaining and growing the export market is “essential for optimising the full value of British pig carcasses”, which will in turn help strengthen prices for UK farmers at the farm gate.
Some of the businesses included in the deal are:
- Cranswick Country Foods PLC – Hull, Watton and Ballymena
- Pilgrim’s Pride Ltd – Spalding and Westerleigh, Bristol
- Thermotraffic Ltd - Wrexham
- Magnavale Chesterfield Ltd - Chesterfield
- ABP Cold Store - Hull
- Americold Spalding Ltd - Spalding
- Turners (Soham) Ltd - Suffolk
- Karro Food Group - Cookstown
- Interfrigo Ltd - Antrim
Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner stated: “British pork is renowned for its exceptional quality and high welfare standards, so it’s no surprise to see global demand continuing to grow.
“This is a tremendous win for our pork producers and builds on our recent success in resuming exports to China. It demonstrates this Government’s unwavering commitment to securing better trade deals for British farmers and food producers and will boost their incomes as part of our Plan for Change.”
Exports Minister Gareth Thomas commented: “British pork is the best in the world and this £20 million export win will boost farming and rural communities across the nation.
“The removal of yet another trade barrier is testament to our Trade Strategy which focuses on quick deals that deliver faster benefits to UK businesses and shows how this Government is boosting exports as part of our Plan for Change, while upholding our world-leading food standards.”
“Working together with industry, Government and key stakeholders was essential to reach this agreement.”
Andrew Muir, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew Muir, said: “I am delighted that Mexico has granted approval for Northern Ireland to export pork to its markets.
“This is testament to the exceptional standards we have in place here in Northern Ireland to produce high quality meat at an international level and demonstrates our commitment to supporting our important agri-food industry. Working together with industry, Government and key stakeholders was essential to reach this agreement.”
Defra stated that the deal is also expected to pave the way for future opportunities for British exporters, with 20% tariffs on pork set to disappear once Mexico ratifies the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), making quality British produce even more competitive in this growing market.
Jonathan Eckley, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) international trade development director, commented: “Access and broadening the scope of our pig meat exports to the significant Mexican market is very welcome news and a testament to our levy payers’ work in providing world-class products, produced to the highest standards.”
