DEFRA: Lamb exports to America closer

[JP1]

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and George Eustice MP
First published:
27 July 2016


Progress made on mission to export British lamb to the US

The mission to get British lamb chops back onto American dinner plates has moved a step nearer, Farming Minister George Eustice will announce at the National Sheep Event on Wednesday, 27 July 2016.

Speaking at the opening of the flagship National Sheep Association (NSA) show in Malvern, Worcestershire, the Minister of State will confirm the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published proposals for consultation to relax import restrictions on lamb that could generate an extra £35 million for the UK economy. This significant step forward means that British lamb is on track to be available for US consumers by early 2017.

The move is the latest in ongoing efforts to allow Britain’s farmers to start exporting sheep meat to the United States’ 300 million consumers.

A 1,000-page dossier was submitted to the USDA detailing the safety and quality of British beef and lamb ahead of April’s trade talks with US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in Washington.

Speaking at the NSA Sheep Event, Farming Minister George Eustice will say:

The US decision to press ahead with proposals to lift export restrictions on British lamb is great news for our farmers who are one step closer to gaining access to the lucrative American market, worth an estimated £35 million a year.

Our world-leading food and drink industry is a key part of our nation’s economic success and in addition to forging good trade deals with our European neighbours, we want to secure more export opportunities in the States as well as with our close friends in the Commonwealth and other countries around the world.

Defra is now co-ordinating UK farming industry comment for the 60-day consultation and liaising with relevant US trade associations to gain support for proposals.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said:

Increasing the number of export destinations for British sheep meat is vital for our industry, ensuring there is demand for our quality product in as many markets as possible.

It is very encouraging that the USA is interested in opening its doors. Lamb sales in the USA have dropped over the years, as a result of a falling domestic production base, and NSA would like to see British lamb exported and promoted to boost consumption. It could be a real opportunity for our sector.

NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe said:

Re-opening the US beef and lamb market to UK imports would be a positive move and an important confidence building measure for the British livestock sector. The US is potentially a huge and affluent market that has strong links to the UK as we share history and language.

 

[Roger Perry]

I refered to this in another thread a few weeks back, there is a huge market for your ag products here, but please brand them to reflect source of origin........

 

[Roger Perry]

What I really meant to say was if it comes from Wales or Scotland or wherever please label it so.
Irish products are sought out in the supermarket because there is a certain cache'.........a value...........people value that.

 

[Pasty]

What I really meant to say was if it comes from Wales or Scotland or wherever please label it so.
Irish products are sought out in the supermarket because there is a certain cache'.........a value...........people value that.

Not interested in 'English' then. Only the romantic stuff.

 

[Roger Perry]

The point I am trying to make is that a branded product from a specific country/region needs to reflect that..........England/Scotland/Wales/N Ireland.
You guys have a big advantage in the American market it's recognized that you, (Britain) have great products........ those Range Rovers and Rolls Royce airplane engines..JCB's etc........so why not more food products..?

 

[JCMaloney]

Caught a bit on the radio yesterday evening that ,after 20 or so years, the US is to relax/remove import restrictions on UK products brought in after BSE. Eloquent chap from Leicestershire was talking about the positives for UK farming exports.
Have I missed it on here or is it a golden opportunity for some?

 

[GTB]

Bound to be good news for british beef farmers. I think the yanks are about to allow our lamb in too.

 

[More to life]

Bound to be good news for british beef farmers. I think the yanks are about to allow our lamb in too.

You could imagine premium cuts going down really well in Irish and scots communities on the east cost.A taste of the old countries

 

[GTB]

HCC chief Gwyn Howells was on the radio this morning saying we could potentially sell 20 million pounds worth of Welsh lamb in year one. Huge market out there and for once I believe him. I think the beef will be slightly more difficult to sell to them as they have plenty of their own?

 

[exmoor dave]

HCC chief Gwyn Howells was on the radio this morning saying we could potentially sell 20 million pounds worth of Welsh lamb in year one. Huge market out there and for once I believe him. I think the beef will be slightly more difficult to sell to them as they have plenty of their own?

I think, the the kiwis generally supply lamb to west coast USA, meaning there is a potential huge market for lamb on the east coast!

 

[Woolless]

I think, the the kiwis generally supply lamb to west coast USA, meaning there is a potential huge market for lamb on the east coast!

Somebody also mentioned that there is a large muslim population on the east coast?
Has got to be good news but we need a lot more markets opened up in the next two years.

 

[GTB]

Somebody also mentioned that there is a large muslim population on the east coast?

Even if Trump gets in?

 

[llamedos]

At the conference yesterday he did say there is a long period ahead of Consultation and Veterinary inspections.It has been a long haul overcoming the legacy of BSE, he was questioned on some discrepancy on what had been said by the Welsh Minister, re the devolved Governments, and what he was saying, however he countered this by saying it would be a UK wide framework, but would be scope for the devolved to have their own say.

 

[Global ovine]

I think, the the kiwis generally supply lamb to west coast USA, meaning there is a potential huge market for lamb on the east coast!

After many years of intense inter governmental negotiation a new company was created involving exporters from Australia and New Zealand and US meat companies for lamb supply to the western seaboard of the USA. The catch required to enter this huge market was the 2 Antipodean countries had to pay for all the market development as the US Gov't did not want their existing and shrinking sheep industry blown away by their being noncompetitive. Up to last year, half of the US lamb consumption has been imported.
I expect there will also be some non tariff and tariff barriers to be overcome for any new entrants on the other side. Market development will be the highest priority as most Americans have never tasted lamb and are revolted by the thought of "eating those cuddly little soft creatures that gambol through the daffodils".
Boiled mutton was fed to US troops during WW2. Hence any sheep meat has been shunned since. However that generation are almost gone now and their grandchildren are now the paying consumers.
Good luck in entering this market that you will have to largely create.

 

[Blod]

I just know this next comment will wind someone up, however I'll say it anyway.

It might be prudent to decide from the start to exclude ram lambs after September. Lamb has to be a consistent product in terms of fat and taste, unless the difference is a marketing opportunity in which case you flag it up. Initial impression is so important. It only takes one bad experience to negate a wealth of good ones.

 

[pgk]

Never understood this, Moslems I work with seek out ram lamb meat n we always eat one of the ones which doesn't make it as a potential tup never had a bad experience, is it something that only certain taste buds pick up like boar taint?

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

The US market will be far more difficult to crack than politicians would like us believe. Global Ovine's point about how the antipodeans have worked to get into this market has been very frustrating and initially very costly.
I had a long conversation with one of the people involved in this from NZ and one of the main issues is that Americans accept very large legs and big chops, but really do not want the rest of the carcasse, then what do you do with that.
Admittedly there may be more opportunity to sell whole carcasses into the East coast where a Muslim market will have a better understanding of what to do with the cheaper cuts but there is plenty of cheap chicken. Weak currency will help but I doubt without some government help to facilitate this the meat companies will be very wary.

 

[IH 684]

Agree with the ram lamb taint. It wouldn't be worth the risk chancing it. Once It starts It will be a huge buying market of lamb into the USA, would be ashame to spoil it.