British cooked poultry products from May Park’s premises in Grantham will soon reach Japanese tables, thanks to a new market access deal. This deal will greatly benefit UK farmers, meat processors, and exporters. The industry estimates that this market could be worth over £10 million in the next five years.
Previously, UK poultry meat was exported to Japan, but Avian Influenza outbreaks in the UK led to trade restrictions. However, with the new agreement in place, the trade of cooked poultry meat can proceed smoothly. This will open doors for additional high-value exports to Japan.
Moy Park, one of the largest poultry meat producers in the UK, has become the first company to be officially registered to export cooked poultry to Japan under this agreement. The poultry products will be sourced from their facility in Grantham.
Japan is internationally recognized for its stringent food safety and import control regime, as well as its demand for high-quality, diverse cuts of meat. The fact that Japan is now accepting UK cooked poultry products reflects its confidence in the high production standards of the UK poultry industry.
The negotiations for this agreement were led by Defra, their Agriculture Attaché, and colleagues based at the British Embassy in Tokyo. The British Poultry Council, South Kesteven District Council, and the Food Standards Agency also provided valuable support.
Ayeisha Kirkham, Head of Service (Public Protection) at South Kesteven District Council, expressed her satisfaction with the collaboration between the council, Moy Park, and other agencies involved in ensuring the satisfaction of Japanese officials during their visit to the site.
“Supporting economic growth and local businesses is a priority for the council, including global food export at a time when import and export has presented national challenges,” said Kirkham.
Beatriz Curran, International Business Development Manager at Moy Park, expressed pride in being the first UK business to benefit from this export opportunity. The company places strong emphasis on food safety, integrity, and animal welfare. Curran is grateful for the collaboration with industry and partners that led to successfully reaching this new market.
“With the momentum from this progress, we are confident that we can further grow this export opportunity across our facilities, leveraging the technical excellence, focus, and energy of our talented team and partners,” added Curran.
