30-05-2025
US audits to ensure UK red meat market access
With international trade increasingly making headlines, an industry expert has reiterated the importance of safeguarding market access for the UK red meat sector.
Ouafa Doxon, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) head of market access, said maintaining UK meat export approvals was more essential than ever in ensuring continued trade in a wide portfolio of markets.
Her comments followed an audit by the US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the UK veterinary system in late March 2025 as part of the UK's ongoing access arrangements for pork, lamb, and beef exports to the US market.
Simultaneous site visits that look at UK official meat controls took place across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with AHDB and the UK Export Certification Partnership (UKECP) hosting pre-audit preparation sessions for the businesses involved on what to expect.
UK red meat access
The US audit followed the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) food safety audit looking at UK pork, lamb, beef, and poultry facilities in September.
Over two weeks, around 20 sites including abattoirs, cold stores, and processing plants were assessed to ensure compliance with export standards.
Following the audit, AHDB and UKECP worked closely with Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and industry stakeholders to compile key documents for review.
Defra has confirmed it is now finalising its formal response to CFIA's recommendations.
Last year total UK red meat exports were worth £1.77 billion. The value of beef, lamb, and pig meat exports in 2024 as a whole increased 3.3% on year earlier levels.
Ouafa Doxon, AHDB head of market access
Doxon said: 'Market access is about securing new opportunities, strengthening existing arrangements, and ensuring continued access into established markets.
'AHDB, working in close partnership with UKECP, DEFRA, and other UK government departments, remains committed to supporting UK meat exports and facilitating international trade.
'The final US audit report is pending, but trade continues uninterrupted marking steady progress in market access and regulatory collaboration.
'Similarly, the final Canadian audit report is pending, but trade continues uninterrupted,' she added.
The AHDB has stressed that with international trade very much in the spotlight currently, expanding global opportunities while safeguarding continued access to key markets is of paramount importance.
'AHDB's market access team continues to work behind the scenes with industry and government to help ensure our red meat export businesses are in the strongest position possible to maximise the opportunities presented,' Doxon concluded.
