Beef brewing over UK market access
Australia is in secretive talks with the UK over beef market access requirements.
Australian beef producers are discreetly negotiating with Britain, seeking a relaxation of onerous European Union meat import criteria that could reinvigorate sales there.
When the UK free-trade agreement came into effect last week, Britain automatically adopted the import standard in place when it was in the EU.
The European Union Cattle Accreditation Scheme standard allows only approved Australian beef producers to sell their products into the union, in order to prove that cattle have not been given hormone growth promotants (HGP).
Other trading partners permit a simpler standard that accepts a declaration signed by producers guaranteeing that their cattle have not been given growth hormones. HGP, used to increase the weight gain of cattle, are allowed in Australia but were banned in the EU in 1989. About 40 per cent of Australian cattle are given the hormones.
Farmers say relaxation of the rules would improve access to the UK’s premium prices and result in more Australian beef in British supermarkets and restaurants.
But the move will face strong opposition from British farmers who say it will undermine their operations.
“Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry officials are engaging with the UK, recommending the adoption of Australia’s modernised supply chain assurance program,” a DAFF spokesman said.
“Australia remains fully committed to meeting all UK’s meat access requirements.
“The recommended assurance program is intended to leverage Australia’s strong traceability system and associated controls to support Australian producers wishing to supply HGP-free beef to the UK.”
HGP use for increasing the weight gain of cattle is allowed in Australia but was banned in the EU in 1998.
About 40 per cent of Australian cattle are given the hormones, according to Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
Australia has a long history of exporting beef to the UK, including the world’s first shipment of Australian frozen red meat to the UK in 1879, but market access has been limited since the UK joined the European Common Market in 1973.
Currently, about $11m of Australian beef is shipped to the UK, accounting for only about 0.4 per cent of the country’s beef imports, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.
The FTA has been met with opposition by farmers in the UK who say it brings little benefit for them and fear they will face a more competitive trading environment.
The UK National Farmers Union, which represents 55,000 members across England and Wales, is opposed to any relaxation of the EUCAS system.
“We expect the government to put in place a meaningful testing regime at the UK border to ensure that our strict legal requirements of having no hormone treated beef sold on the UK market is enforced,” the NFU said in a submission to the House of Commons last year.
The FTA allows Australian beef exports to the UK under a tariff rate quota regime.
The quota begins at 35,000 tonnes of Australian beef that can enter the UK tariff free.
It will rise in instalments to 110,000 tonnes over ten years.
The market will be restricted by a volume safeguard provision until 2038, after when it will be fully liberalised.
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