Irish beef is approved for sale in US again after 15 years

Irish beef has been approved for sale in the US for the first time in more than 15 years.

Fears over BSE prompted American officials to ban beef from EU countries, and that ban was only lifted in March of last year.

Ireland will be the first member state to benefit from that, after US authorities inspected our beef production systems last July.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney says his Department will announce a number of schemes to capitalise on the announcement in the coming weeks.

The President of the Irish Farmers Association Eddie Downey says it’s very welcome news for the industry.