The Saudi Food and Agriculture Authority (SFDA) has agreed to increase shelf life for chilled vacuum-packed beef and sheep meat in response to Australia’s submission on draft technical regulations.
This is a valuable outcome in adding volume for Australian meat producers and exporters to Saudi Arabia as it will allow them to ship their product via sea freight.
This change is the result of a sustained science-based collaboration between the Australia Government, Australian industry, and the Saudi Arabian Government.
The proposal to extend the shelf life was based on scientific evidence, and noted the mutual benefits including that a longer shelf life would reduce waste and support Saudi food security.
Local livestock producers offer some of the best food and fibre in the world, and we produce enough food to feed 75 million people every year.
Ever-expanding and improved market access is fundamental and key to us reaching a $100 billion agriculture sector by 2030.
Extended shelf life is also being worked through with the other Gulf States such as United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, with the aim to make the case for the same shelf-life requirements for red meat from Australia.
Why our Gulf State trade is important
· Vacuum packed meat to Saudi Arabia was worth $79.2 million in 2020.
· Total value of red meat exports to the Gulf States was over $870 million in 2020, of which chilled red meat was worth $280.7 million.
