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             08/06/06           
              English beef exports have re-started strongly and are making
                an important contribution to achieving the Meat and Livestock
                Commission (MLC) forecast for the first year of 30,000 tonnes
              worth in the region of £75 million. 
            
            Leading the field on taking English
              beef are France, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain
              following a huge programme of activities and attendance at a host
            of trade shows by the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX). Additional
              events are still in the pipeline aimed at boosting exports further.             
            Main customers for the first English prime beef exports are Italy,
              Benelux and Spain with cow beef customers mainly in the Netherlands
            and France.  
            Richard Ali, EBLEX Chief Executive, said:  
              "It is very pleasing indeed to see how well markets
              in Europe have started to accept English beef again. "But
              we certainly don't intend to rest on our laurels - there's a lot
              more work to do. Our planned importer/exporter convention in Paris
              on June 7 will be important to help set up new business contacts
              between buyers and sellers. "This is being supported at home
              by a number of highly successful inward missions with buyers seeing
              England's beef chain in action. "We intend to make sure England
              is at the forefront of the work being done and that the English
            industry profits as much as possible from the trade." 
            
              Quality
              Standard Mark firmly established 
  £5.5
                    Million Boost For Beef 
  Fight
to establish post-export price levels for prime cattle 
            
            
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