Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has said that he expects Ireland to become the first European country to export beef to the U.S., with Irish beef on sale in the U.S. by September. RTE News reports that Coveney is visiting the United States to promote Irish agri-trade and investment.
He had meetings with the USDA this week in regards to having the United States allow Irish beef imports. The USDA will send inspectors to Ireland next week to carry out audits of food safety controls at Irish meat plants. Coveney said that following those inspections, Irish beef could be exported to the U.S. by September or October.
The US has recently lifted BSE restrictions on Irish and European beef which had been in place since 1999.
Source: RTE News
