SD MAKES PROGRESS TO RETAIN E50M NORWAY BEEF MARKET

MATSAPHA – The country has made slight progress to retain the 500 tonnes beef export quota to Norway, which remains suspended.

Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary Bongani Masuku has disclosed that government submitted samples of the buffaloes received from Zambia for tests in the EU and, they had since been returned.

Without providing timelines, Masuku said the received results would pave way for further discussions with the European Union to determine whether the mammals were free from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
“We have received the test results and are currently compiling a report to be tabled to the EU. Thereafter, we will know the way forward,” said Masuku.
When probed as to what was the outcome of the results, Masuku said he could not reveal any more details to avoid pre-empting deliberations yet to be undertaken with EU.

Informed

During a press conference convened about a fortnight ago, EU Ambassador to Swaziland Esmeralda Hernandez Aragones, revealed that they had been informed by government that samples had been sent for testing to the EU.       
The Board of KLF, whose lobby efforts led to the successful granting of a beef export quota to Norway in 2009 for a total of 500 tonnes per year, had earlier warned that government needed to act fast in the submission of samples for testing.   

KLF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bjørn-Ole Juul Hansen strongly advised that it would be in the best interest of the kingdom to protect the beef market.
Hansen explained that upon receipt of the samples, the European Union (EU) would conduct their own tests and make recommendations to Norway on whether beef from Swaziland would be imported once again.
Soon after correspondence from EU experts gets received by Norway, KLF will be better positioned to resuscitate lobby efforts for the kingdom to regain the beef market, which attracted up to E50 million per annum.

“We have been patiently waiting for the ministry to submit tests to re-engage in negotiations to revive imports of beef into Norway,” said Hansen during an interview conducted at Summerfield Botanical Gardens about two months ago.
Board Chairman Ståle Gausen highly emphasised on the importance of the kingdom adhering to stipulated timelines in order to ease negotiation processes of getting back the beef market, which remains key to bolster beef trade with Norway.

Precise

“We have a limited time to maintain the Norway beef market quota, especially because we need to give precise answers to the customers who purchase the meat,” Gausen explained.
He said there were already countries that had shown interest to be suppliers of beef, a factor which provides for the main reason why the kingdom should not rest on its laurels in the quest to ensure that the ban imposed by the EU got lifted soonest.

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