Hong Kong expands market for U.S. beef
June 17, 2014 | 01:23 PM
The government of Hong Kong has agreed to import the full range of U.S. beef and beef products consistent with access before December 2003, when a case of mad cow disease was discovered in the United States, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today.
“This is great news for American ranchers and beef companies,” said Vilsack in a news release. “Hong Kong is already the fourth largest market for U.S. beef and beef product exports, with sales there reaching a historic high of $823 million in 2013. We look forward to expanded opportunities there for the U.S. beef industry now that all trade restrictions are lifted.”
The new terms become effective today.
Previously, only deboned beef from all cattle and certain bone-in beef from cattle less than 30 months of age could be shipped from the United States to Hong Kong, USDA said. Earlier this year, Mexico, Uruguay, Ecuador and Sri Lanka also lifted their longstanding restrictions to provide full access for U.S. beef and beef products.
Vilsack noted that the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) last year granted the United States negligible risk status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease.
In December 2003, Hong Kong banned U.S. beef and beef products following the detection of a BSE-positive animal in the United States, which USDA noted was one of only four cases ever discovered in America.
In December 2005, Hong Kong partially reopened its market to allow imports of deboned U.S. beef from cattle aged 30 months or younger produced under a special program for Hong Kong and expanded access to include certain bone-in cuts from cattle less than 30 months of age in February 2013.
While Hong Kong, although officially part of China, serves as its own customs and quarantine administration zone and maintains its own rules and regulations, USDA noted.
“This is great news for American ranchers and beef companies,” said Vilsack in a news release. “Hong Kong is already the fourth largest market for U.S. beef and beef product exports, with sales there reaching a historic high of $823 million in 2013. We look forward to expanded opportunities there for the U.S. beef industry now that all trade restrictions are lifted.”
The new terms become effective today.
Previously, only deboned beef from all cattle and certain bone-in beef from cattle less than 30 months of age could be shipped from the United States to Hong Kong, USDA said. Earlier this year, Mexico, Uruguay, Ecuador and Sri Lanka also lifted their longstanding restrictions to provide full access for U.S. beef and beef products.
Vilsack noted that the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) last year granted the United States negligible risk status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease.
In December 2003, Hong Kong banned U.S. beef and beef products following the detection of a BSE-positive animal in the United States, which USDA noted was one of only four cases ever discovered in America.
In December 2005, Hong Kong partially reopened its market to allow imports of deboned U.S. beef from cattle aged 30 months or younger produced under a special program for Hong Kong and expanded access to include certain bone-in cuts from cattle less than 30 months of age in February 2013.
While Hong Kong, although officially part of China, serves as its own customs and quarantine administration zone and maintains its own rules and regulations, USDA noted.
