Welcome access to US market for lamb, but when?
It's good news that the long-standing BSE ban's been lifted on lamb: but when will it come into effect?
CLA Cymru has welcomed the release of Welsh lamb from a decades-long export ban to the United States. However, Mark Tufnell, Deputy President of the CLA, says “This is a welcome move, and not before time. The UK produces world-class lamb to the highest environmental and animal welfare standards, and frankly, this ban should have been lifted a very long time ago. We look forward to a further announcement which confirms when the US will start to accept British lamb and beef.”
The news comes as, earlier this week; Welsh Cambrian Mountains Lamb followed Gower Salt Marsh Lamb in being awarded value-adding Protected Geographical Identity (PGI) status, which may increase appeal to US consumers. Acting like a Trade Mark, this provides legal protection to recognised products, which have a strong reputation and noted characteristics against imitation by other producers within the European Union.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the announcement that the ban is to be lifted during his visit with President Joe Biden at the Whitehouse yesterday (22 September). The United States has banned British lamb imports since 1989, following the first outbreaks of BSE, known as “mad cow disease.” A similar ban on British beef imports, imposed in 1996, was lifted in September last year. Despite the news, prospects of a UK-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) does not appear to be on the cards.
This is a welcome move, and not before time. The UK produces world-class lamb to the highest environmental and animal welfare standards, and frankly, this ban should have been lifted a very long time ago. We look forward to a further announcement which confirms when the US will start to accept British lamb and beef
“Putting lamb back on the US market will be worth around £37m for UK producers in the next 5 years. Perhaps more importantly, it shows the UK Government is serious about opening up new markets for our farmers and there is every reason to believe American consumers will wish to choose lamb, beef and other UK products in ever greater quantities.”