Crisis mood in the meat economy: import stops endanger exports!
Crisis mood in the meat economy: import stops endanger exports!
In Austria, no outbreak of mouth and claw disease (MKS) has so far been proven, but current cases in neighboring countries have already had a serious impact on domestic meat industry. This reports ots.at
The countries Japan, Great Britain, the USA and Canada have imposed an import stop for meat from Austria. Roland Ackermann, chairman of the vocational group cattle and meat wholesalers in the WKÖ, emphasizes that the need for export partners is particularly relevant for the marketing of farm animals. The Asian markets in particular are considered significant for export. Japan has strict import rules that come into force from a certain key date, according to which were no longer accepted at customs, regardless of the production date.
challenges for export
According to current estimates, there are currently 2,000 to 3,000 tons of meat on the sea route to Japan. The transport can take up to 60 days. Products that were generated before the cut -off date are carried out without an epidemiological basis, which means that the domestic meat industry faces significant challenges. Christoph Atzmüller, veterinarian and managing director of the Federal Committee Agrarhandel in the WKÖ, emphasizes the extensive control and protective measures taken in Austria. Despite these precautions, the industry is faced with an increasingly intangible situation.The upcoming rejections and the resulting danger of extermations are considered potential ecological and economic damage. Products that have been on the way to Asia for weeks could be affected, and this would put a lot of burden on the affected companies.
economic implications of a possible outbreak
The effects of an actual outbreak of the mouth and claw disease in Austria would be far-reaching. Agricultural economist Franz Sinabell from the Economic Research Institute (WIFO) emphasizes that domestic meat and milk producers would be confronted with trade restrictions and lower exports. Export restrictions are a usual practice in such epidemics to minimize economic damage.
The prices for meat and dairy products could increase, which would be due to a shortage of the offer on the market. Sinabell does not believe that consumers would do without the consumption of these foods because the mouth and claw disease are not dangerous for humans. He draws a comparison to the 2011 EHEC outbreak, which had the vegetable market collapsed because consumers were afraid of damage to health.
In 2024, the production value of milk was around 1.95 billion euros, while that of beef was around 950 million euros. A decline in production by just two or three percentage points could result in significant economic losses for domestic agricultural companies, so LKO.AT
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| Ort | Österreich, Österreich |
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