Bahrain reopens to the Irish

Bahrain has lifted restrictions on the importation of Irish beef, which had been in place since January 2001 due to BSE and FMD concerns. The trade was reopened following a seminar on food safety in the beef sector held in Dublin last October, attended by delegates from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE, and a recent visit to Ireland by the Bahraini Minister for Health. Although Bahrain has not been a significant market for Irish beef in the past, it is a significant development for Irish beef to be allowed back into the Gulf region, with other Gulf countries expected to follow suit.