B+LNZ applauds progress on European red meat access conditio

29 April 2011

The signing in Brussels of an agreement which will progress an increase in New Zealand’s annual sheepmeat quota to the European Union has been welcomed by Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chief Executive, Dr Scott Champion said the proposed 400 tonne increase was negotiated by the New Zealand Government to compensate for loss of markets that occurred when Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU.

“This increase, while modest, will allow New Zealand meat companies to export a total of 228,254 tonnes of lamb, mutton and goatmeat products to the EU tariff-free each year.

Dr Champion said New Zealand’s exports to the European Union are complementary to EU domestically produced lamb.

“Products from New Zealand provide European consumers with year-round availability of lamb and also help maintain supply chains to major EU supermarkets, ensuring lamb product are stocked through out the year.

The agreement with the EU also includes a technical redefinition for New Zealand's small high quality beef quota of 1,300 tonnes to the EU.

“This technical update increases the maximum allowable weight for qualifying animals and updates administration requirements to reduce compliance costs and allow New Zealand meat exporters to supply EU consumers with the larger steak cuts they demand, improving our terms of access to the world’s highest-value beef market.

Dr Champion said Beef + Lamb New Zealand has been working closely with the Government for a number of years to achieve this technical change in specification. The industry’s lamb and beef exports to Europe are market led and so it is important to be able to change technical aspects of our market access in order to meet those changing demands.

“It’s good to achieve this outcome on behalf of the sector. Concluding this agreement with the European Commission will allow our trade policy resources to be clearly focused on assisting the Government in improving New Zealand’s market access through the numerous Free Trade Agreement negotiations currently underway.

Full implementation is expected once European Parliament approval has been obtained a decision which is expected mid 2011.

ENDS

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