Declan Fennell, Meat Division, Bord Bia – Irish Food Board

Building on the positive outcome of last week`s trade agreement between the EU and Japan, Bord Bia together with the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine hosted a technical trade seminar for some 50 major Japanese beef buyers in Tokyo on Thursday 13th July.

Earlier this year Bord Bia secured €3.75 million funding from the European Commission to promote EU beef and lamb in Japan, China and Hong Kong. This week’s technical presentation outlined the high standards of food safety, quality assurance and traceability associated with beef from the European Union. In addition, Bord Bia demonstrated to Japanese buyers how consumer demand for sustainably produced beef is on the rise and how Ireland`s Origin Green programme can provide them with a product that responds positively to this increased consumer demand.

This week’s seminar in Tokyo is the second major promotion in the Japanese market by Bord Bia as part the EU co-funded Beef and Lamb campaign (2017-2019). In March this year Bord Bia participated at FOODEX Japan, a key trade fair which attracted over 80,000 Japanese food buyers, importers, processors, retailers, restaurateurs and chefs.

Japan is the fourth richest economy in the world with a population of 127 million. Ireland has long recognised the value of the Japanese beef market. In 2013 the Irish beef industry regained access to this important market, beef exports have increased four-fold since then to reach €7m.

For more information please contact declan.fennell@bordbia.ie