After the entry into force this year of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the EU has “redoubled its efforts” to address Japan's agricultural market access interests, says the European Commission in a statement issued on Thursday 18 July (see EUROPE 12184/3).
These efforts are now bearing fruit. Japan confirmed that the authorisation procedures for applications from several Member States to export beef (applications from Croatia and Spain) or beef products (applications from Denmark, France and Poland) will be finalised more quickly than planned, in accordance with the procedures in place for risk assessment, says the Commission.
Since 2013, Japan had already issued authorisations to Member States to import beef and/or beef products (France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands).
EU beef exported to Japan will gradually (over 15 years) benefit from a reduction in customs duties from 38.5% to 9%, with a ‘safeguard volume’ of 50,500 tonnes (over 10 years).
EU beef exporters now have better access to this very lucrative market, the Commission concludes.
With annual exports worth over €5.7 billion, Japan is already the EU's fourth largest market for agricultural exports. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)