UK meat producers are looking both east and west as they plan to break into lucrative US and Chinese markets -- an ambition sharpened by the prosect of leaving the EU.
British beef and lamb producers have visited Washington DC to receive training on US import regulations, on a trip organised by the UK agricultural trade body the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). An AHDB official commented that the training put UK producers in a good position to be able to agree 'regulatory equivalence' between US and UK standards -- a prospect that may alarm people who see US meat standards as lower in certain respects than those of the EU, to which the UK currently conforms. Read more here.
Meanwhile, Chinese meat importers have recently been visiting the UK for the same reason. Chinese inspectors toured a beef farm and abattoir in Surrey, again on a visit organised by the AHDB, as reported here. Beef consumption in China is rocketing (counter to advice on sustainable diets), with imports doubling to £1.5 billion from 2014 to 2015.
Sustain campaigns for a greener, fairer and healthier food system. Find out more about our work here.
Published Friday 20 January 2017
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
