02/17/2012
First shipment sent to the EU under the high-quality beef quota regulated by Commission Regulation EC 620/2009. The Livestock Minister and INAC’s President were present during the activities carried out at San Jacinto slaughterplant.
The Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries Tabaré Aguerre said that Uruguay is the only Latin American country that can access this quota; it is one of the four countries that have this opportunity thanks to the joint work of the Ministry of Livestock, INAC and other institutions, as well as the private sector’s.
Currently Uruguay can make use of part of the 20,000 tons allocated to the group of countries, which are expected to increase to 48,300 tons in 2013.
‘Our country is the only one that produces beef without growth promoting hormones and is also able to certify the age of cattle through the traceability system’, Minister Aguerre said.
The Minister stated that this is more than just selling beef for a good price, it is also selling technology from Uruguay.
He also said that it is adding nutrition without losing the natural attribute of natural beef and made reference to INAC's pasture logo representing a country that evolves without losing is natural quality.
The President of INAC Alfredo Fratti said that this operation under the abovenamed quota is another door opened for Uruguay that proves to be competitive in spite of the European crisis. If work is aimed at special niches, Uruguay is competitive and can face these challenges.
INAC’s President also talked about exports of Uruguayan beef to Russia and livestock exports.
