04/14/05 Egypt and beef exports

Export to Egypt Last month the U.S. regained one of our beef export markets. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be right back to tell you the name of that country. Effective March 21, 2005 Egypt will resume beef imports from the United States. There hasn't been any U.S. beef shipped to Egypt since December 2003. We shipped $30 million worth of beef and beef products to Egypt in 2003, so it will be on the positive side of the U.S. agricultural trade ledger. I always like it when we deal in positives. Egypt stipulates that the beef be from animals younger than 30 months of age and that all specified risk materials be removed. Some specified risk materials include brain, eyes, skull, spinal cord, tonsils, and intestines. The main requirement to note is that each box of beef product must be labeled with a statement that the product is derived from animals of U.S. origin or imported from countries free of BSE and in accordance with strict U.S. import requirements. I found it interesting that Egypt is such a large importer of internal beef organs with over half its imports being beef livers. Getting this export market back tells me other countries want U.S. beef products and consider it safe. Now, if Japan will just make up its mind to import U.S. beef or our trade negotiators can convince their officials to make up their minds we will really be dealing in positives. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter 3/30/05