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UAE lifts ban on U.S. beef
Story Date: 2/2/2012
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Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 2/1/12
The United Arab Emirates has lifted its ban on imports of U.S. beef from cattle older than 30 months, giving a boost to the burgeoning Middle East market, USDA confirmed.
“USDA welcomes the January 24th announcement by UAE officials that will align their beef import policies with international guidelines. This progress was the result of close cooperation between officials of both countries,” the agency said in a statement emailed to Meatingplace on Tuesday. “Currently, we are working with Emirate authorities to finalize the export documentation requirements.”
"We appreciate the efforts of U.S. trade officials in seeking greater access to the UAE. It's an excellent growth market in what is currently a very high-growth region for U.S. beef,” U.S. Meat Export Federation spokesman Joe Schuele told Meatingplace.
Through October, U.S. beef exports to the Middle East have already set new annual records for both volume (145,457 metric tons, or about 320 million pounds) and value ($287.7 million) — increases of 39 percent and 44 percent, respectively, over last year’s pace, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
The UAE imposed the restrictions in 2009 on fears of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The United States hasn’t had a BSE case since 2006.
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