UK beef producers eye new market in UAE

Quality Meat Scotland has welcomed news that a health certificate for exports of deboned, fresh beef has been obtained by the UK for the UAE.

While clarity is still being sought by QMS on the detail of some of the stipulations required to achieve certification, Laurent Vernet, QMS head of marketing, said the development presented an exciting potential opportunity for Scotch Beef exporters.

The UK Export Certification Partnership (UKECP) negotiates export health certificates on behalf of the UK.

“We are delighted with the news. The UAE offers exciting potential for Scotch Beef,” said Vernet who attended last year’s Gulfood event in Dubai, one of the largest food and drink trade shows in the world.

“Dubai itself is now being promoted as the ‘highway to the world’ and positioned as an economic powerhouse alongside London, New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo,” added Vernet.

“Given the high demand for top quality food and the steak-eating culture, this market clearly offers exciting potential for our iconic Scotch Beef label with its world-leading quality assurance and global acclaim for taste."

The UK has an existing health certificate for the export of lamb to the UAE and while no Scotch Lamb is currently exported to this market, Vernet said the opening of the market to Scotch Beef may well lead to increased interest in Scotch Lamb from the market.

The UK Export Certification Partnership (UKECP) provides a forum to establish export market priorities and negotiate export health certificates on behalf of the UK.