UK pork producers will be able to export to Chile for the first time, in a move estimated to be worth £20m in the first five years of trade.
The new market creates new export opportunities for the pig industry as the Government, the UK Export Certification Partnership and Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board continue working to develop market access opportunities as part of work to support the sector.
This builds on measures including the launch of an immediate review of fairness in supply chains in the pig sector, using powers under the Agriculture Act 2020.
Farming Minister Victoria Prentis has held various roundtables with farmers and industry representatives and spoken to the agricultural leads at the major banks to ensure that they are showing pig farmers as much flexibility as possible. The Government has additionally introduced a Private Storage Aid Scheme, Slaughter Incentive Payment Scheme, and a bespoke temporary visa scheme for pork butchers.
The UK exported £339m of pork in 2021, with over two thirds going to non-EU destinations, demonstrating the value of new markets. Chilean authorities have now opened up their market to 27 firms across the UK.
Farming Minister Victoria Prentis said: “The pig sector is facing a range of challenges and we must make use of all levers available to us. That includes new export markets, and it is great to see the Chilean market open its doors to our pig producers. This will be worth £20m over the next five years and will build on other measures we have introduced to bolster the industry.”
