Minister McConalogue meets with Lakeland Dairies at major food trade event

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD recently led a trade mission to the Gulf Region of the UAE and Saudi Arabia where he met with Irish companies at Gulfood, the world’s largest food trade event.

The week-long trade mission saw the Minister engage with buyers of food and politicians in the region promoting Ireland’s top-quality, safe and sustainable food sector. While at Gulfood in Dubai, Minister McConalogue met with Lakeland Dairies at its stand.

“It was great to be able to meet with such a tremendous Irish company as Lakeland Dairies at the Gulfood event in Dubai recently. Thanks to the work of companies like Lakeland Dairies with the assistance of Bord Bia, Irish food is the choice of so many high-end retailers, restaurants and customers in the Guld Region.  I was delighted to be able to spend time with the team Lakeland Dairies at Gulfood to understand their strategy for the Guld Region,” the Minister said.

Agri-food exports to the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were over €155 million last year, dominated by dairy products, but with significant growth in exports of prepared consumer foods.

“The Gulf Region has real potential for growth. The customers and politicians I engaged with over the course of the trade mission all recognised Ireland as being a sustainable food destination of choice. I am confident that with pioneering companies like Lakeland Dairies, driven by committed and innovative farm families, we can see further gains being made in the region in the time ahead,” he added.

While in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Minister McConalogue met with the leadership of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) in Riyadh, where agreement in principle was reached to lift the current restriction whereby Irish beef exports to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must come from cattle slaughtered under 30 months of age.

Further technical engagement will now take place to complete the necessary formalities to confirm the expanded access.  Minister McConalogue also secured SFDA commitment to further technical engagement on sheep meat access, and raised the possibility of poultry meat access in the future.

“Following a constructive meeting with the SFDA, I'm pleased to report that the requirement for all beef exported to Saudi Arabia to be from animals under 30 months has now been lifted. While the necessary formal exchanges remain to be completed, it is welcome news and comes following detailed engagement with the Saudi competent authorities by my Department, with support from the Embassy of Ireland in Riyadh and the agricultural attaché for the Gulf region.

“Irish food is synonymous with quality, sustainability and safety in the Gulf Region, and I am confident that the door will soon be open for a wider range of Irish food access to the Saudi market,” the Minister concluded.