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The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, today welcomed the agreement which has been reached with the Iranian veterinary authorities which will allow for the importation into Iran of Irish beef.

The Iranian market had been closed to exports of beef from Ireland since 1996 and its re-opening is the result of on-going efforts by his Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Bord Bia over a number of years, which included a successful inspection visit to Ireland by a veterinary delegation from Iran last April. The market is being re-opened to Irish boneless beef from animals aged under 30 months.

The Minister said that "the re-opening of this market was a reflection of the renewed confidence the Iranian authorities have in the rigorous controls and high standards of food safety we have in Ireland." He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that Irish meat exporters would have access to as many global markets as possible and that his Department, Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, would continue to work closely in achieving this goal.