Access to export markets remains a key priority for beef and lamb in Northern Ireland (NI), according to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC).

Commission chief executive, Ian Stevenson said:

“The UK will remain the largest and most important market for beef produced in NI.

“We export the vast majority of the beef and lamb that we produce locally.

“Developments of this nature will have very beneficial implications in terms of the prices that can be offered to farmers.

According to the LMC chief executive, the commission works very closely with the UK Export Certification Partnership in helping to make new third country market access happen.

One extremely encouraging development in this regard has been the opening up of the US market to accept sheepmeat imports from the UK.

“A decision, in principle, has been reached on this matter,” Stevenson confirmed.

“But it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that lamb from Northern Ireland will be making its way to the United States at some stage during 2022.

“Currently the American market accounts for 135,000t of lamb imports on an annual basis, with 70% of domestic demand serviced by imported product,” he explained.

Turning to the issue of food imports, Stevenson highlighted the potential impact of the recent trade deals agreed by the UK with both Australia and New Zealand.

Both these developments, in his view, could have significant consequences for NI’s farming and food sectors over the coming years.

He added:

“The current conservative government at Westminster seems to be wedded to a cheap food policy. From what I can see there is little, or nothing at all, of what could be considered a good news story coming out of these developments for farming and food across the UK.

The LMC chief executive concluded:

“Here, in Northern Ireland, climate change will be the main focus. However, where London is concerned, reserved matters relating to trade policy must be debated in a context that also includes the needs of Northern Ireland in full.”