Saudi Arabia reopens market to U.S. beef

U.S. beef producers and exporters now have access to Saudi Arabian consumers after nearly four years of being shut out of the Middle Eastern market due to the detection of an “atypical” case of “mad cow” disease in 2012.    U.S. beef producers and exporters now have access to Saudi Arabian consumers after nearly four years of being shut out of the Middle Eastern market.
   Saudi Arabia closed its borders to U.S. beef shipments in 2012 when an “atypical” case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or “mad cow” disease, was detected, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
   The nation will now allow imports of beef and beef products from U.S. cattle less than 30 months of age, with access expanded to include products from U.S. cattle under 48 months of age after a phase-in period. Products eligible for export include bone-in and de-boned beef, offal, ground and processed beef, USDA said.
   USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is developing a program to certify that U.S. beef exports meet Saudi Arabia’s import requirements. The AMS program is expected to be announced within the next few weeks.
   “Reopening Saudi Arabia’s market will create additional export opportunities for American ranchers. The United States exported over $31 million of U.S. beef and beef products in 2011, prior to the ban,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman in a joint statement.