Singapore grows US beef import list

07-May-2015 - Last updated on 08-May-2015 at 09:12 GMT

Processed beef will be eligible for export under the new agreement

Related tags Beef products Export Import International trade Beef

Singapore has increased the range of beef products it can import from the US.

The Singapore Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have agreed on an expanded range of beef products that can be exported to Singapore.

Under the agreement, boneless and bone-in cuts, processed beef and offal products are allowed, provided they come from establishments that are in the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Beef Export Verification programme for Singapore, known as Singapore Export Verification (SEV).

Previously, it had only allowed boneless cuts from cattle less than 30 months old.

The SEV programme does come with conditions for beef products. The products must come from cattle that are born, raised, and slaughtered in the US, including feeder cattle born in Canada and Mexico that were raised and slaughtered in the US.

Beef and beef products derived from calves under 12 months of age imported from Canada for direct slaughter are also eligible, while products from cattle imported from Canada for direct slaughter can only be boneless cuts from animals less than 30 months of age.

Products derived from cattle imported from Mexico for direct slaughter are not eligible for export to Singapore.