Exports of British lamb to the US market can resume from next year after more than two decades of restrictions.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed it has amended the rule, which currently prevents lamb imports from the UK into the US. The amended “small ruminant rule” will come into force on 3 January 2022.

This development means that more than 300 million US consumers will soon be able to taste lamb from the UK. It is estimated that this market will be worth £37 million (US$49 million) in the first five years of trade.

The change also comes following high-level talks between the two countries’ agriculture secretaries, Tom Vilsack in the US and environment secretary George Eustice in the UK. 

The ministers stress they are committed to working together in the months ahead.

UK lamb on US menus for first time in 20 years
In September, US President Biden said he would lift the ban on British lamb during meetings with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

It comes after UK beef exports to the US finally resumed after a 20-year ban was lifted, reestablishing the US market to British producers in October 2020.Lamb exports from the UK to be accepted in the US. 

This follows years of negotiations and builds on securing UK beef exports’ resumption to the US. UK lamb is renowned for its high quality, food safety and welfare standards. Millions of US consumers will now be able to enjoy British lambasearly as next year,” says Eustice. 

“The US market for lamb is growing as consumer trends change, and there are now new opportunities for farmers and meat processors in this market.”

Opportunities for UK sheep sector
The small ruminant rule (SRR) previously restricted access to the US market for all sheep meat from the UK and a number of other countries, including EU member states and Canada.

This development clears the way for Defra to work with the Department for International Trade (DIT) and UK food safety authorities, such as the FSA, DAERA and FSS, and counterparts in the US, in completing the final necessary steps to achieving the full resumption of UK lamb exports to the US.

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan adds: “The UK exported £436.4 million (US$578.6 million) worth of lamb to the world last year and over £29 million (US$38.4 million) worth of meat to the US. We want those numbers to grow, and this win will help achieve that.

Lamb exports will complement the UK’s existing pork and beef trade to the US, which was worth £22 million (US$29.1 million) to industry in the first nine months of 2021.