In theory the UK can export beef to any country in that the EU-imposed worldwide ban on UK beef exports was lifted in May 2006. In practice re-establishing markets for UK beef in third countries has been difficult due to continued fears over BSE and the need to negotiate market access on a country by country basis. We are working with industry to identify key third country markets so that negotiating resources can be targeted effectively. Other EU countries face similar barriers in trying to export their beef to many third countries.
According to HMRC statistics the UK has exported beef to 103 countries in the last ten calendar years (1999-2008). Countries with imports in excess of £1 million over this period are detailed in table 1 and table 2 as follows. During the period March 1996 to May 2006, UK exports were restricted to small quantities of UK beef exported under the strict criteria in the Data-Based Export Scheme (DBES) and to foreign origin beef re-exported under the Export Approved (XAP) Scheme. It is not possible to identify only beef reared in the UK from the HMRC statistics although non-UK reared beef will only form a small proportion of UK exports after May 2006.
£000 Country 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20082 Irish Republic 6,510 9,019 5,969 10,575 13,380 16,179 23,193 32,098 56,184 75,930 Netherlands 9,899 9,330 9,328 8,551 7,291 3,950 2,189 24,979 33,448 57,630 France 2,098 2,100 1,150 1,168 615 1,490 1,822 14,877 20,256 27,972 Italy 1,326 1,289 660 518 1,393 892 629 9,155 7,883 22,023 Germany 2,615 2,052 4,257 2,433 2,148 2,470 1,250 6,326 5,359 7,657 Belgium 312 634 695 24 421 881 708 4,515 5,216 10,893 Spain 528 328 633 808 427 710 598 3,362 2,723 2,949 Denmark 741 379 843 95 50 183 64 992 2,268 6,653 Switzerland 9 15 8 — — — — 193 587 3,495 Sweden 304 303 40 12 10 9 8 888 873 1,546 Greece 0.3 15 4 64 10 11 12 775 2,111 923 Kuwait 3 8 — — 502 823 812 443 287 769 Portugal 211 417 36 33 120 280 47 706 269 605 Afghanistan — — — 30 73 113 178 243 271 769 Poland — 3 — — — — 8 159 652 669 USA 7 3 34 — — — — 73 842 314 Falkland Islands 35 35 34 93 120 198 129 95 66 382 Others (86 countries) 720 1,124 686 488 419 174 163 949 1,239 1,333 Grand total 25,318 27,053 24,378 24,891 26,981 28,363 31,808 100,828 140,533 222,513 1 Includes bone in bovine, boneless bovine, edible offal and prepared/preserved bovine meat products. 2 2008 data are subject to amendments
Tonnes Country 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20082 Irish Republic 2,767 3,318 2,971 4,028 6,196 5,948 8,030 10,807 21,169 31,852 Netherlands 2,486 2,119 1,978 1,645 1,423 830 789 13,831 20,652 27,463 France 1,484 1,885 792 1,033 603 1,039 770 5,983 9,783 7,989 Italy 413 443 287 199 458 415 256 3,509 2,682 4,101 Germany 1,160 428 1,293 890 993 963 1,419 4,043 3,082 3,228 Belgium 86 108 227 9 225 612 233 2,846 3,298 5,771 Spain 200 96 282 291 208 322 239 1,902 1,458 886 Denmark 223 123 188 69 67 114 30 352 1,098 2,216 Switzerland 16 5 3 — — — — 29 42 404 Sweden 130 128 14 9 9 2 2 415 399 347 Greece 1 2 1 24 5 5 5 345 899 325 Kuwait 6 21 — — 216 279 248 162 119 205 Portugal 68 143 17 12 51 73 19 145 67 217 Afghanistan — — — 7 21 26 51 84 89 1,463 Poland — 3 — — — — 22 291 1,152 1,024 USA 1 1 8 — — — — 1 388 68 Falkland Islands 13 11 10 33 46 60 46 31 23 98 Others (86 countries) 301 437 301 187 120 66 79 1,033 884 1,222 Grand total 9,355 9,271 8,373 8,436 10,643 10,754 12,238 45,811 67,284 88,880 1 Includes bone in bovine, boneless bovine, edible offal and prepared/preserved bovine meat products. 2 2008 data are subject to amendments.