The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, has confirmed that Saudi Arabia’s ban on imports of sheepmeat from Ireland has been lifted.
The Minister confirmed the news today, on the last day of the ministerial-led trade mission to the Gulf States.
Saudi Arabian authorities have signed a decree lifting the ban on Irish sheepmeat, Department of Agriculture officials said.
While the full details on the access have not yet been disclosed, it is understood that further details will be made available by Saudi Arabia next week.
The Minister said that in order to get access a lot of technical work goes on, but meeting on a political level does also deliver.
Delighted to just receive confirmation on Sheep meat access to Saudi Arabia on final day of Gulf Trade Mission. Icing on the cake!!
— Michael Creed TD (@creedcnw) March 2, 2017
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Earlier this week, the Minister secured enhanced access for Irish beef to Saudi Arabia.
That announcement was made on the first day of the Irish agri-food Trade Mission to the Gulf region.
Minister Creed said that the agreement will make a difference to Irish companies wishing to send beef to Saudi Arabia, by adding processed, cooked, minced and bone-in beef to the list of products that can be exported.
“This is testament to the high regard in which Irish beef is held here and marks the culmination of intensive work by my Department, our Embassy here in Riyadh and the industry over recent months,” he said.