Beef Export Boost Welcomed By Farron

Tim Farron MP has welcomed the news that Canada has re-opened its market for imports of British Beef for the first time since 1996.

Tim described the deal, which applies to both primal cuts and manufacturing beef, as "welcome news" for local farmers.

British beef exports worldwide are worth more than £370m to the UK economy. In 2014, Canada imported 162,653 tonnes of fresh and frozen beef, with more than half of shipments coming from the US, followed by Australia. The UK already has market access to export sheep meat to Canada.

The deal, which covers 19 EU member states, has been secured with the help of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and the UK government.

Tim said: "This is an important and welcome agreement for farmers in the UK, and is a recognition of our high welfare and quality standards.

"This is good news for local farmers, who will now have access to an important new export market."