Lithuania becomes second EU country to export beef to US

Lithuania Meat Processors Association director Egidijus Mackevičius was happy that Lithuania has become the second EU country after Ireland to receive approval to export beef to the US.

The decision allows the import of Lithuanian beef, pork, sheep and goat meat and derived products and follows investigations by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“It took several years to convince the US to approve Lithuania, and the good thing for us was that we never had bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), which was a critical problem for the major part of other EU countries,”​ explained Mackevičius.

Optimism​

He also expressed optimism about the new opportunity. “The impact expected is significant. The US is the biggest market after the EU for Lithuania,” ​he said. “We have a lot of migrants in the US, as well as other neighbouring countries’ migrants there, who like high-quality Lithuanian meat products and we think there is some niche for such products in the US.”​

Commenting on the likely economic benefits, Mackevičius added: “Value is difficult to predict – it is a new market, so it will depend on a lot of things. We will do our best to enter the US market as much as possible.”​
 
A spokesperson for the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “Lithuania’s negotiations on veterinary requirements and the harmonisation of documents with the responsible US institution lasted nearly 11 years. This question became even more urgent after Russia placed a ban on the import of all meat products.”​

African swine fever​

According to Lithuania’s State Food and Veterinary Services director, Jonas Milius, at least five experts visited Lithuania during this time and assessed meat production and measures against African swine fever in animal by-products.

Mackevičius pointed out that Lithuania was never “banned” from exporting meat to the US but that permission had simply not been granted and that new trading relationships would now have to be established.
 
Algis Baravykas, director of the Lithuanian Pig Producers Association, said: “It is good to be able to export some niche products or just know that a Lithuanian product would be accepted.”​

Challenge​

That said, he anticipated that it would be a challenge for Lithuania to export general pig meat products to the US’ competitive market, where costs are low, compared to Lithuania, which has to comply with EU feed quality, veterinary and welfare rules.

“EU members do not use some parts of GMO feed and also growth hormones used in the US,” ​he said. “All these, transport costs and current exchange rates make EU meat products uncompetitive in the US market.”​

The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs official added that it expected further market opening and new opportunities for business would be delivered by a Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) trade deal between the EU and the US.

The FSIS stated that the meat safety control system in effect in Lithuania is now in full compliance with US requirements. However, companies wishing to export will still be subject to the approval of Lithuania’s State Food and Veterinary Services and entry port inspectors.