Singapore has agreed to beef imports from France, in a move to ensure EU producers can meet the growing demand for their products in the Asian markets
French agriculture minister Stéphane Le Foll has welcomed the move, and meetings have been held to explore prospects of French beef with other countries such as China, Brazil and Saudi Arabia as well.
Le Foll said that there is a growing number of middle class beef consumers in Singapore, making it a lucrative market for French beef producers and exporters.
Much like the deal with Singapore, France has also signed a similar agreement with Vietnam, although its still subject to Council and Parliament approval.
In September 2011, Singapore lifted its ban on Irish beef after the market closed to Ireland eleven years earlier due to scares over bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease. Agriculture minister Simon Coveney said at the time that “non-EU markets offer an important alternative outlet to our exporters, along with the real potential for expansion”.
Similarly, in 2013, the ban on Northern Ireland was lifted two years later, which was a move described as a huge opportunity for the beef industry in Northern Ireland.
