European beef will once more be served up in US restaurants following a near 20-year import ban imposed at the height of the BSE crisis.
Irish meat processors are the first to sign a deal to export beef across the pond, sparking hope Scotch Beef will quickly follow suit.
This follows a move in November 2013, by the United States Department of Agriculture, to lift a 16-year import ban for European beef and beef products.
The news that the Irish have signed an export deal was welcomed by Scots red meat levy body Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).
“The re-opening of this potentially valuable market will send a further clear message of confidence to the beef industry in Scotland of the increasing global opportunities which exist for our high quality products and may also help to open other lucrative markets, such as Korea and Japan,” said QMS chairman Jim McLaren.
“This underlines the strong and positive growth in demand which we have seen over recent years for Scotch Beef which has had the coveted Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status for around 20 years and has earned a global reputation for quality.”
However, Mr McLaren warned that unless Scots farmers increased beef production, the red meat sector would be unable to take advantage of opportunities at home and abroad.
“The greatest threat facing the sector remains the availability of stock to take full advantage of these opportunities,” he said.
QMS said it was working closely with the Scottish Government, Defra, the UK Export Certification Partnership and other devolved bodies to make sure UK companies will be able to export beef to the US as soon as possible.
“The technical requirements – including audits and inspections of UK beef production facilities – which the USDA requires to be undertaken are now at an advanced stage,” said Mr McLaren.