DAERA Minister has welcomed Northern Ireland
being given the green light to export pork to Mexico.
The announcement was made by the Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs (Defra) following confirmation of approval from
the Mexican Service for the National Health for Food Safety and
Food Quality (SENASICA).
The new UK export deal will provide a £19 million boost to the UK
food industry, according to Defra. In Northern Ireland, two
slaughterhouses and one cold store have received approval to
export produce to Mexico.
Welcoming the deal, Minister Muir said: “I welcome the
news that Mexico has granted approval for the UK to export pork
to its markets which follows joint efforts by Defra and DAERA.
Partnership working between industry, government, key
stakeholders and the Mexican food authorities has been
instrumental in getting this agreement across the line.”
Minister Muir concluded: “This is an important
achievement for our agri-food sector, allowing it to showcase the
excellent standards of Northern Irish pork and helping to
reinforce Northern Ireland's reputation as a trusted supplier of
high quality food products.”
The agreement is in place until June 2027.
Notes to editors:
- In total, 12 businesses across England and Northern Ireland
have been approved to export pork to Mexico until June 2027. This
includes approval of two Northern Ireland slaughter plants (Karro
in Cookstown, Cranswick Country Foods in Ballymena) and one cold
store (Interfrigo in Antrim).
- The approval follows a number of audits by the Mexican
Service for the National Health for Food Safety and Food Quality
(SENASICA).
