There are record non-preferential EU beef imports
20 May 2004
A record volume of beef and veal imports
into the EU outside of special preferential arrangements has been
reported by Meat and Livestock Australia. In 2002/03 the EU imported
61,615 tonnes of beef at full duty, some 27% above 2001/2002 levels.
The most important markets for this beef were Germany, the UK and
the Netherlands.
Editorial comment
This suggest that there is considerable scope for ACP beef exporters
to fully utilise their existing quotas and pick up the new markets
arising from Zimbabwe's current exclusion from the market. However,
in order to be able to do this the rules of origin on beef products
may well need to be relaxed in order to allow greater cumulation
with neighbouring non-ACP beef producers.