NSA delighted by news of first US lamb exports

The NSA was extremely encouraged by the news of the first exports of Welsh lamb to hit US soil last week. 

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker says: “The US is proving a valuable market for red meat exports, with shipments of pork and beef worth more than £24 million in the first seven months of 2022. This is fantastic news for the British sheep industry, and it comes after many years of hard work by AHDB, working closely with our other levy bodies. The success of our sheep industry is based on market opportunities and access to the US will offer just that, building on what is already a healthy demand for our high-quality British lamb.”

Last December, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had amended the rule preventing imports of lamb from the UK into the US, with the change coming into force in January.

Now meat processor, Dunbia, that specialises in the production and procurement of lamb, has exported the first consignment across to the US from its site in Carmarthenshire, Wales. The first shipment of Welsh lamb was expected to arrive for, and be enjoyed by a gathering of US industry leaders at the Meat importers Council of America (MICA) annual conference.

Mr Stocker continues: “The moves by US authorities to allow the export of lamb from the UK have created the first trading opportunity in 20 years with the nation. Trade with the US is estimated by levy board AHDB to be worth £37 million to the sheep sector in the first five years of trade. It is extremely encouraging to see a trade deal that provides opportunity for UK sheep meat producers.”