On Wednesday 8 March, the European Commission hailed the prospect of European beef exports being resumed to Chile.
The Commission highlights the publication in the Chilean Official Journal of 7 March of the agreed definitions of meat marketing standards – "the last major hurdle to resuming trade from the EU into Chile", the Commission says. The "excellent agricultural trade relations" between Chile and the EU, recognised by Commissioners Vytenis Andriukaitis, Cecilia Malmström and Phil Hogan (responsible respectively for food safety, trade and agriculture) have allowed both parties to reach an understanding.
Chile is not traditionally a major export market for EU beef, but EU exporters could find Chile a potential new outlet for their veal exports. The EU has not been able to export beef meat to Chile because of specific requirements set out in the country's Meat Law No 19.162/1992. This law requires that meat cuts be identified in accordance with different criteria (on bovine carcasses) from those of the EU. Both parties have agreed on a correlation between Chilean and EU names for the cuts and classification of the carcases – which will open the way to EU exporters to trade with Chile again. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)