PROPOSALS to relax import restrictions on British lamb and beef into the United States of America have been welcomed by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

The union met with UK farming minister George Eustice and officials from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) during last week’s Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd.

Mr Eustice has confirmed USDA has published the proposals to re-open the US market to British imports, a move which generate an extra £35 million for the UK economy. The US ban on British red meat dates back to the BSE epidemic in 1996.

FUW president Glyn Roberts said: "This could mean that Welsh and British lamb and beef may well be available for US consumers by early 2017 and with that opens an export market to 300 million consumers for our first class quality produce."

A 1,000-page dossier was submitted to the USDA detailing the safety and quality of British beef and lamb ahead of April’s trade talks with US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in Washington.

Mr Roberts said: "We have met with both George Eustice and with USDA representatives Stan Phillips, counsellor for agricultural affairs and Steve Knight, agricultural specialist last week at the Royal Welsh Show to discuss our Farming Matters campaign and as part of those meetings we also highlighted the importance of trade deals for our economy in a post-Brexit world.

"Now more than ever we need to explore other markets, and the US market is one we are keen to develop much stronger relationships with, so this comes as most welcome news. It will also help us in trade negotiations with our allies in the Commonwealth and other countries around the world."

The UK government’s rural affairs department Defra is now co-ordinating UK farming industry comment for the 60-day consultation and liaising with relevant US trade associations to gain support for the proposals.The US delegation also met with the NFU Cymru union at the Royal Welsh Show.NFU Cymru livestock board chairman, Wyn Evans said: “Re-opening the US beef and lamb market to UK imports would be a positive move and an important confidence building measure for the Welsh livestock sector. The US is potentially a huge and affluent market that has strong links to the UK as we share history and language.“Average lamb consumption per head in the US is relatively small so it will be important to target promotions. It will also be critical to identify the right consumers and areas of the US. We know that HCC have already carried out some work in the US looking at the opportunities and speaking with retailers, food services and import agents which we hope will give us a head start when the market opens next year.”