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Last year Ireland's beef exports were worth €2.41 billion, which represents 22% of overall agrifood exports. And that figure could be set to increase in the coming years as Irish beef exporters now have improved access to the US market.

Ireland has become the first country in the EU with the opportunity to export manufacturing beef to the US for the first time in 15 years.This news comes as the US authorities have decided to recognise Ireland’s raw meat control system as equivalent to that of the US, extending access to manufacturing beef intended for grinding which is typically used in burgers and similar processed products. 

This clears the way for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to approve beef plants to export manufacturing beef intended for grinding to the US. Currently, six Irish plants are approved to export beef to the US.

18 months ago, the US market was opened up to beef exports from Ireland. Since then, there have been intensive discussions between both sides on a range of technical matters to extend access to manufacturing beef intended for grinding.

The US imposed a ban on beef from the EU for BSE reasons over 15 years ago. This ban was only formally lifted in March 2014. Ireland was the first EU member state to secure market access in January 2015 and remains the only EU member state exporting beef to this market to date.

Useful Stats

• The total US beef market is estimated at 11 million metric tonnes per annum and is split 60% foodservice / 40% grocery retail. Approximately 1 million tonnes of this is imported, the bulk of which is manufacturing beef.
• While grass fed / natural / organic beef is a small volume category compared to conventional / grain fed beef, currently accounting for approximately 10% of total volume, it is estimated to be growing at approximately 20%+ per annum
• Bord Bia estimates that in 2015 Ireland exported €10.83 billion worth of Food & Beverages