USDA announces Japan to accept exports of US sheep and goat meat
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue July 12 announced the government of Japan has finalized technical requirements that will allow United States sheep and goat exports into the country for the first time in more than 14 years.
“This success is a direct result of USDA’s dedication to helping America’s farmers and ranchers keep and find new markets for their products,” Perdue said. “The United States has a reputation for high quality agricultural products and this administration is committed to helping U.S. producers prosper and share these products with the world.”
This announcement comes after extensive work by U.S. Department of Agriculture technical staff with Japanese authorities to establish new terms for market access that are science-based and consistent with international public and animal health standards. These terms will allow U.S. exports of sheep and goat meat to resume.
Last year, Japan imported $169 million in sheep and goat meat, primarily from Australia and New Zealand.
Meat and lamb groups were excited by the announcement.
“We’ve been aggressive in calling for the re-opening of this market to American lamb for years,” said American Sheep Industry Association President Mike Corn of New Mexico. “Trade is such an important issue all around the world right now, and it’s important for American lamb producers to be able to compete in a global market. With the opening of Taiwan and Japan in the last three years, we’re increasing our producers’ ability to do just that.”
ASI reiterated its desire to open the Japanese market in a letter to President Donald Trump’s transition team before he even took office in January of 2017. The sheep industry’s position on this valuable market has been emphasized in meetings with agriculture and trade officials in the administration, as well as congressional leaders.
“Japan was a primary market for U.S. lamb before losing access, so obviously our lamb producers and the lamb industry are very excited about this opportunity to again export our quality products to an upscale market,” U.S. Meat Export Federation Chair Dennis Stiffler, president of the Texas division of Halperns’ Purveyors of Steak and Seafood and former chief executive officer of Mountain States Rosen, a livestock producer-owned processor and distributor of lamb and veal products, said.
“The Japanese have proven in the past that they are very receptive to the unique flavor of U.S. lamb, and 95 percent of all lamb raised in the U.S. is grain-fed. It’s a very succulent protein that will stand up well to competitors’ products in the Japanese market. U.S. lamb has been well received in other upscale markets, including Taiwan, which reopened to U.S. lamb in 2016. But Japan presents an exceptional opportunity for significant export growth.”
Already the leading value market for U.S. beef and pork, Japanese consumers are expected to embrace U.S. lamb’s flavor and consistency, along with the essential nutrients that make it part of a healthy diet.
Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO, thanked U.S. agricultural and trade officials for their efforts to restore market access for U.S. lamb and said the announcement lays the groundwork for a much-needed boost for lamb exports.
“As is the case in other markets where U.S. red meat has been successful in regaining access, this is the result of tremendous work by U.S. government officials and the U.S. meat industry,” said Halstrom. “There is great demand for high-quality, grain-fed red meat in Japan, as demonstrated by the success of U.S. beef and pork.
The U.S. lamb industry is anxious to capitalize on opportunities in Japan’s restaurant and retail sectors, and USMEF is eager to begin promoting U.S. lamb in Japan.”
Japan’s lamb imports reached a record value of $168 million last year, up 26 percent year-over-year. Through May 2018, imports were 43 percent ahead of last year’s pace in value at $95 million, while volume was up 28 percent to 12,265 metric tons. Australia is the top supplier of lamb entering Japan with 60 percent market share so far this year, while New Zealand supplied 38 percent.
More details on Japan’s export requirements are available from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Export Library at: www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/international-affairs/exporting-products/export-library-requirements-by-country/Japan.
Larry Dreiling can be reached at 785-628-1117 or [email protected].
