Ireland Deterred by Unfavorable Conditions

Despite Ireland having access to the Iranian beef market since 2013, Irish Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has said that no beef exports have taken place due to current unfavorable trading conditions.

According to the Irish farming news portal AgriLand, Creed added that the Iranian market is open for the importation of beef and sheepmeat from Ireland, as veterinary health certificates for both commodities have been accepted.

“The agreement on the beef certificate dates back to 2013 while the sheepmeat certificate was agreed earlier in 2016, following on from the trade mission to Iran, which was led by my department and Bord Bia,” he said.

Bord Bia, which is Ireland’s trade development body promoting the sale of Irish food and horticulture products abroad, embarked on a trade mission with 17 Irish food producers to explore the potential of the Iran market at the end of April this year.

The visit was aimed at increasing Ireland’s share in the Iranian food market following the removal of international sanctions in January.

“The Iranian food industry showed a deep interest in the full range of the Irish dairy offering and while the lifting of sanctions has not yet removed all obstacles to trade, the frank and informative presentation at the seminar by Iranian legal and financial experts … ensures that business opportunities will multiply as the economy grows, and sanctions recede,” Aidan Cotter, the CEO of Bord Bia, noted after the visit.

The Irish delegates, including Creed, met senior officials of Iran’s Agriculture Ministry to discuss trade opportunities for Irish beef, sheepmeat and dairy in particular.

“Iran is the second largest consumer market in the Middle East and North Africa, after Egypt, with around 80 million consumers. Economic growth there is expected to intensify following the recent easing of economic sanctions and so it could potentially be an important destination for Irish beef and sheepmeat in the future,” Creed added.

He noted that his department is constantly working in close collaboration with the industry, Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in gaining access to third country markets for Irish meats.

“The importance of market access is recognized by Food Wise 2025 [Ireland’s national food strategy] and has been given an added impetus by the results of the UK referendum on Brexit. It is important to have as many alternative markets available to our exporters as possible,” he said.

Ireland’s food and beverage exports to Iran in 2015 amounted to €3.6 million consisting mainly of juices, butter and prepared foods, according to Bord Bia.

While exports of dairy produce, including infant formula, were considerable in the past, it has suffered in recent years.