Ireland’s application to have access to the South Korean market for its beef has moved a step closer.
According to Bord Bia, South Korean consumers are the highest, per capita, consumers of meat across Asia. They consume a total of 79kg per person, with beef accounting for 17kg of the total.
Meat consumption is forecast to grow over the next four years with beef consumption predicted to grow by 1 per cent year on year, while pork consumption will grow by 1.5 per cent.
There is an eight-step process to be completed before access is given for Irish beef and Ireland is currently more than halfway through the steps.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConologue, confirmed the Korean Ministry of Agriculture (MAFRA) had finished looking at Ireland’s application and it had been transferred to parliament.
A 20 day public consultation closed on 29 April. The further steps to secure full access include an inspection by Korean authorities of individual Irish beef plants hoping to export to Korea.
Holland and Denmark were the first EU member states to be granted beef access into Korea in 2019. South Korea is only 35 per cent self sufficient in beef production and in 2020, it imported over 481,777 tonnes of beef – 92 per cent came from the US and Australia.
LSL News.