UK gains sheep meat market access in India
The deal, reached between the UK’s Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and UK Export Certification Partnership, is set to boost its sheep meat export market by £6m over the next five years.
According to DEFRA, UK sheep meat exports were worth £386m to its economy in 2017, with lamb meat reaching 69 export markets.
DEFRA said exporters could take advantage of the market as soon as the administrative process was complete and export certifications were made available.
“The latest market access opening in India represents a significant win for the UK’s sheep meat producers,” said farming minister George Eustice.
“The announcement builds on the UK’s food and drink exporting success story. Our well-established reputation for taste, quality and high animal welfare standards have seen our food and drink industry exports [reach] record levels in recent years.”
Meanwhile, international trade secretary Liam Fox said India represented a smaller market for its sheep meat exports, but one with potential for future growth.
“Today’s announcement is once again a testament to the high-quality produce and world-class standards we have here in the UK,” said Fox.
“A team of the Government’s leading trade experts continue to provide guidance to UK businesses as they enter into overseas markets for the first time or consider expanding their current global customer base – ensuring they are poised to take advantage of the increasing opportunities Brexit presents.”
The move follows a string of other market openings and re-openings for the UK meat industry, such as China lifting its two-decade ban on the beef industry and Taiwan opening its market to pork for the first time.
