This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Lifting of beef export ban
03/03/2006
The Scottish beef supply chain will be given support from the Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise and Quality Meat Scotland to help them re-enter the European beef market, it was announced today.
In advance of a crucial meeting in Brussels next week which will see countries decide on whether to lift the ban, Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie detailed Scotland's readiness.
Ten years to the month since Scotland was first hit by the BSE crisis Ross Finnie addressed the AGM of National Farmers Union Scotland and pledged his support while launching the new Agriculture Strategy for Scotland.
Mr Finnie said:
"I have fought long and hard to see the beef export ban being lifted. I value greatly the support we have had in this from producers and the wider beef industry.
"It has been a difficult and immensely frustrating process but we are pushing extremely hard to obtain a positive decision to lift the ban next week in Brussels. That would permit unrestricted exports to resume very soon, hopefully as early as this April.
"The next phase will be to recapture overseas markets through our beef export marketing programme. The Executive is already working closely with Quality Meat Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Food From Britain and Scottish Development International in the run up to the re-opening of European markets.
"Actions include support for learning journeys for potential exporters; helping fund new marketing staff; and funding feasibility studies into new markets."
With help from the Executive and Scottish Enterprise, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) have appointed Business Development Managers in Benelux and France to raise the profile of red meat from Scotland, to provide supply chain and market information and to develop key contacts.
Scottish Development International and QMS have already run a red meat learning journey to France to give participating Scottish companies an understanding of the specifications required by French retailers and importers of cow beef. Next week, QMS is running a workshop for meat companies to discuss detailed aspects of exporting and to explain what help is available, including processing and marketing grant assistance from the Executive.
A key strand of the Forward Strategy for Agriculture - Next Steps is to develop a farming industry the is focused on producing food for the market and embracing change and market opportunities.
The full strategy can be found at : http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/03/01142456