18 years ago
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Posted
3rd May, 2006 00h00
British farmers are competing for a slice of the international beef market as UK beef exports resume today.
Prime British beef will now be exported again two months after EU Member States voted to lift the export ban on British beef.
Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food, Lord Bach said: "This is excellent news for the British farming industry - news that is long overdue.
"Prices for British beef are currently at their highest for nine years. The re-opening of new markets should lead to new opportunities for farmers.
"It is our sincere hope that farmers and beef exporters will make the most of this opportunity to market their excellent quality product abroad and to show other member states that British beef truly is among the best in the world.
"I will do everything I can to work with the beef industry to help rebuild the overseas market for our beef."
At a top level meeting of the beef industry today Lord Bach announced the establishment of a new English Beef Export Group to co-ordinate the promotion of beef and beef products abroad with EBLEX (the English Beef and Lamb Executive) and other industry bodies and to help UK farmers and meat companies to take advantage of export opportunities.
The meeting was attended by representatives of every sector of the beef industry, from farmers and processors to retailers and caterers.
Lord Bach was travelling to Italy today to promote English beef at the CIBUS international food fair in Parma and at a dinner with meat importers in Milan.
Italy is historically one of the largest markets for prime cuts of English beef and is seen as a key market.
2 days ago