US embassy cable - 05DUBLIN1267

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001267 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA FOR FAS/DLP AND ITP DIVS; FAS/FAA/BLEGGI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, EAGR, ECON 
SUBJECT: IRISH BEEF EXPORTS TO EGYPT RESUME 
 
 
1. Irish beef exports to Egypt are set to resume, albeit 
slowly, with the completion of the production of 700 metric 
tons this week. Egyptian authorities imposed restrictions on 
Irish beef in late 2000 following worries over the incidence 
of BSE in the EU. Irish exports to Egypt peaked at 154,000 
tons in 1999 (150,000 tons in 2000), and the lack of access 
to this market, since 2000, was heavily felt throughout the 
sector in Ireland. Ongoing veterinary discussions since then 
resulted in partial agreements to the re-opening of the 
market but no trade had resulted. Further discussions during 
the past summer have resulted in this breakthrough. Post 
understands that one of the veterinary conditions imposed is 
for direct supervision of the slaughtering by Egyptian 
veterinarians. 
 
2. With slaughtering of cattle entering its busiest period, 
Irish beef processors have welcomed the return of Egypt as a 
potential market. Irish beef exports to the UK face a 
possible turbulent future in the next few months with the 
ending of the Over Thirty Month scheme (where beef from 
animals aged over thirty months is excluded from the food 
chain). That event has the potential of displacing 70,000 
tons of Irish exports to the UK and alternative markets must 
be found for this beef. A re-opening of a critical market 
may encourage other international markets to re-examine at 
Ireland as a source for beef. 
Kenny