The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, today announced that the Philippines had removed the ban on the importation of Irish and EU beef. The ban was put in place in November 2000 following the BSE crisis in Europe at the time. Prior to the ban the Philippines market was developing well and over 12,000 tonnes of Irish beef had been exported in 1999.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has been working consistently since then with the help of An Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs to have the ban lifted. In September 2007 a delegation from Ireland representing these bodies travelled to the Philippines and presented a seminar on the safety of Irish beef which was very well received by all present. In May of this year, Ireland succeeded in gaining Controlled Risk status, regarding BSE, from the OIE (the World Animal Health Organisation). This reflects the success of the extensive measures implemented in Ireland to control BSE and confirms the safety of Irish beef in that regard.

Minister Brendan Smith said this represented another breakthrough in regaining markets closed because of BSE and added that it would provide a welcome additional outlet for Irish beef on the world market.

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