PARIS: France became the latest country in Europe to get the green light allowing it to export beef to the United States once again.
Reportedly, since the BSE crisis in the late 1990s, the U.S. has enforced a ban on beef from Europe but that now appears to be changing. A joint statement from European Union commissioners welcomed the move taken by the U.S. and expressed hope that all the European member states will soon have similar access.
“After similar decisions taken for Ireland, Lithuania and the Netherlands, the commission welcomes the decision of the United States to authorize imports of beef from France,” said a joint statement issued by commissioners Cecilia Malmström, who is responsible for trade, Vytenis Andriukaitis, in charge of health and food security, and Phil Hogan, in charge of agriculture.
“Efforts by the European Union to eradicate BSE from its territory have borne fruit. This is excellent news for French producers and the commission continues to work with all parties concerned to ensure that in the near future all member states will have equal access to the U.S. market.
“This decision by the U.S. clearly demonstrates what we can achieve by having an open and constructive relationship with one of our most important trading partners.”
The U.S. market has been closed to beef from the EU since January 1998, when the U.S. introduced import restrictions on beef and veal, sheep and goat meat following the outbreak of BSE. These measures go beyond the recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health. European beef is therefore safe for consumers.
However, the French ministry warned that administrative hurdles meant it could take time for beef exports to the U.S. to resume.
