MARKET ACCESS TO JAPAN FOR IRISH FOOD DISCUSSED

Market access to Japan for Irish food discussed. Last week, Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD, had Government-to-Government meetings with his Japanese counterparts in Tokyo, as part of the Minister’s agri-food trade mission to Japan and Southeast Asia.

Minister McConalogue met with Mr Tetsuro Nomura, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and separately with Mr Katsunobu Kato, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, to discuss a range of issues of mutual concern, as well as opportunities for further cooperation.

Minister McConalogue commented:

“The joint leaders’ statement signed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin with Prime Minister Kishida during his visit to Japan last month reflects the depth of the bilateral relationship between our two countries.

“I was very pleased to meet Minister Nomura and Minister Kato, to congratulate each of them on their recent appointments to these key Ministries; to outline our Food Vision 2030 ambition for Ireland to be a world leader in sustainable food systems; and to explore opportunities for future collaboration, particularly in the field of research and innovation.

“In terms of meat market access, my department has engaged in detail with the Japanese authorities over recent years, including locating an agricultural attaché in the Embassy of Ireland in Tokyo. This effort is now paying off – we have market access to Japan for pig meat; our beef market access was further enhanced last year to include minced meat and burgers; and market access for sheep meat was achieved in 2019.

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine officials and Bord Bia officials engaged with key stakeholders and important commercial partners in the Japanese food industry, in top-to-top business meetings as well as a series of technical seminars to explain Ireland’s quality, Origin Green-verified, food and drink offering.

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