UK lamb could soon be on the dinner tables of consumers in the United States – but not in time for Christmas.

After extensive risk evaluations, US authorities today (Dec 3) removed the small ruminant rule, which was introduced more than 20 years ago banning imports of lamb from countries where scrapie had been identified.

Lamb exporters in the UK will now have access to the American market – worth an estimated £37m in the first five years of trade – from early 2022.

Work has been ongoing to finalise this important piece of legislation in the US, effectively allowing UK processors to be eligible to ship lamb following final agreement on the Export Health Certificate.

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The four UK red meat levy bodies, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and Livestock and Meat Commission Northern Ireland (LMC), will continue to work with government and the UK Export Certification Partnership (UKECP) on this to support the commencement of commercial trade.

AHDB's international market development director, Dr Phil Hadley, said: “This is fantastic news for our sheep producers and exporters, and we are delighted that US customers will have the opportunity to experience our high-quality lamb products in 2022.

“The US market is estimated to be worth £37m over the first five years of trade – a tremendous boost for the UK sheep sector. The new legislation also unlocks opportunities for quality UK sheep genetics which presents a further valuable opportunity for the UK sheep sector.

“Today’s announcement means lamb exports will complement our existing pork and beef trade to the US, which was worth an impressive £22m to industry in the first nine months of 2021.

“Gaining access to the US further cements our reputation as being world renowned producers of high-quality lamb and we look forward to seeing our products on US plates in the New Year.”

Tom Gibson, director of market development at Quality Meat Scotland, added: “QMS welcomes the news that the US has lifted its ban on British lamb, providing a new export market for Scotch Lamb PGI.

“Scotland produces some of the world’s highest quality sheep meat products, sustainably farmed, to the highest animal welfare and environmental standards. This exciting new opportunity will be one our exporters of Scotch lamb will be keen to grasp and maximise trade opportunities with potential customers in the US.”

Obviously, the National Sheep Association is delighted at the move. Its chief executive, Phil Stocker, commented: “We are extremely pleased to hear this ruling as the small ruminant rule has blocked the way for exports of lamb and sheep genetics to the USA for many years.

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"This will help expand trade opportunities for UK sheep farmers and exporters and should see British sheepmeat having access to the USA as early as spring 2022, to complement their domestic product and that of other nations.

"Credit should be given to AHDB who have been working on this issue for many years and it’s a good example of the value of our lamb levy, the UK Export Certification Partnership, but also to the Government and Dept of International Trade who have invested in opening negotiations between the UK and USA.”

He added that a bonus could be an eventual resumption in trade for British sheep genetics to the US, helping both the UK and USA sheep sector.

Mr Stocker said: "We also know there is a strong demand for UK sheep genetics in the USA for semen and embryos. Many British sheep breeds are present there but are numerically too small to have an adequate gene pool, so the demand for our genetics is strong and is already being asked for by US sheep breeders.

"This is also the case for our commercial meat breeds and for many of our heritage/native breeds and will be of benefit to the global sheep farming sector.”