Scottish processors to benefit from Singapore import changes
Following the announcement that Scotland was granted negligible BSE risk by the World Organisation for Animal Health, the AVA has changed the age limit of the beef products that Scotland can export to Singapore, as well as now allowing bone-in beef and offal into the country.
The announcement was made by Scott Wightman, British High Commissioner to Singapore, at a ‘Food is Great’ reception, hosted at his residence this week in front of representatives of the British food and drink industry and their distribution partners in Singapore.
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), worked with the UK Export Certification Partnership to advocate this change with the UK’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and AVA.
Laurent Vernet, director of strategic engagement at QMS, said that the market in Asia offered significant potential for Scotch Beef sales growth in the coming years.
“This is great news for the Scottish red meat industry. There is currently a steady flow of Scotch Beef being exported to Singapore, and we have seen a lot of interest in the product from the premium food service industry at the show this week,” said Vernet. “The premium price of Scotch Beef faces steep competition from quality meat from other parts of the world. AVA’s decision to accept imports of bone-in beef, beef offal and beef from older animals from Scotland will therefore give our country a strong commercial advantage over other British nations and an excellent opportunity to help boost Scotch Beef sales in this very lucrative market.”
Vernet said there were currently three processors in Scotland accredited to export beef to Singapore, and that QMS would continue to support further Scottish companies interested in this market.
He added: “We are very grateful to the British High Commissioner for his help to facilitate this review within AVA.”
QMS recently exhibited at the Food and Hotel Asia (FHA) trade fair in Singapore, to promote Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI. The three-day event attracted more than 40,000 trade delegates from around the world looking to supply hotels, restaurants and other food outlets.
Meanwhile, Scotland recently visited the Philippines on a trade mission to explore beef and pork market opportunities in the country. Delegates also visited New Zealand on a ‘fact-finding’ exchange in March.
