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Vietnam Removes Restrictions on U.S. Beef

Published: Apr 05, 2015

Vietnam recently removed all cattle age and product restrictions on U.S. beef and beef products, provided these items are derived from cattle slaughtered on or after March 27. The Agricultural Marketing Service Export Verification (EV) program is no longer required for these products.

Vietnam is a small market for U.S. beef and beef variety meat, with exports in 2014 totaling 2,869 metric tons (mt) valued at $22.1 million. But removal of cattle age and product restrictions is a positive development, especially in a market that is rather price-sensitive.

“It is encouraging whenever a trading partner removes BSE-related restrictions and grants full access to its market,” said Thad Lively, USMEF senior vice president for trade access. “This indicates that the ongoing educational efforts of our U.S. trade officials are paying dividends, as well as the negligible BSE risk status granted to the U.S. by the OIE in May of 2013.”

Lively also noted that having access to Vietnam for a full range of beef products will allow the U.S. industry to better capitalize on any market access gains resulting from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.