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Progress made on mission to export British lamb to the US

The mission to get British lamb chops back onto American dinner plates has moved a step nearer, Farming Minister George Eustice will announce at the National Sheep Event on Wednesday, 27 July 2016.

Speaking at the opening of the flagship National Sheep Association (NSA) show in Malvern, Worcestershire, the Minister of State will confirm the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published proposals for consultation to relax import restrictions on lamb that could generate an extra £35 million for the UK economy. This significant step forward means that British lamb is on track to be available for US consumers by early 2017.

The move is the latest in ongoing efforts to allow Britain’s farmers to start exporting sheep meat to the United States’ 300 million consumers.

A 1,000-page dossier was submitted to the USDA detailing the safety and quality of British beef and lamb ahead of April’s trade talks with US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in Washington. Read More