PRIME CUT
American market to reopen for Ireland
The US government has decided to ease restrictions on imports of beef put in place in 1997 at the height of BSE, or mad cow disease, in Europe. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a government agency, has agreed to follow international import standards on BSE, rather than imposing its own. At a press conference last weekend, Ireland was one of just three countries mentioned as being ready to export once the ban is lifted, as it fulfils other animal-health criteria set by American authorities. There will now be a public consultation for 60 days, and no reopening date has been set. Nevertheless, the EU welcomed this as "a step towards the resolution of [a] problem which has poisoned transatlantic relations for too long".
QUID PRO QUO
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Europe set to import more US beef
The EU has responded. From 1988, Europe refused to import hormone-treated beef from North America. It said this was based on scientific evidence of health risks; evidence rejected by the US and Canada. They responded by slapping sanctions on EU products such as cheese, chocolate, mustard and jam, limiting duty-free imports. Last week, the European parliament voted to increase imports of American beef that had not been treated with hormones from 20,200 tonnes a year to 48,200. This takes effect on August 1. In return, the US and Canada are lifting their sanctions on €190m of products. The main beneficiaries will be Italy and Poland, and also Ireland, which can export a further €16m of goods.
CASHING IN
Agricultural sector licking its chops
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America's lifting of restrictions on imports of high-quality cuts of meat has the Irish agricultural sector purring. John Bryan the president of the Irish Farmers' Association, thinks Ireland "could gain a foothold in the largest beef market in the world, which imports 1m tonnes a year". Aidan Cotter, the chief executive of Bord Bia, points out that beef prices in America are about 10%-15% lower than in Europe, but "there has been a growing convergence, in particular over the last two years". Without that convergence, Irish beef might be uncompetitive, although its appeal is based on quality. Simon Coveney, the agriculture minister, who is to visit America in May, says the process "will ultimately provide a tremendous opportunity for high-quality, grass-fed Irish beef".
BONE OF CONTENTION
Study says red meat is bad for you
With unfortunate timing, a study from the Harvard School of Public Health has found that the consumption of red meat, and particularly processed meat such as rashers and sausages, is associated with an increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and death. "We estimated that substitutions of one serving per day of other foods (including fish, poultry, nuts, legumes, low-fat dairy and whole grains) for red meat were associated with a 7% to 19% lower mortality risk," the authors said. Farming interests have criticised the findings, but unlike many such studies this was comprehensive - tracking more than 120,000 people for three decades - and precise. The effect on the market for red meat in America can only be guessed at.