Scotland's beef industry looks set to benefit from a change to the official requirements of the Singapore authorities on the definition of UK meat products that can be imported.

Following the announcement several months ago that Scotland had been granted 'negligible BSE risk' by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Scottish exporters can now send beef from any age, along with bone-in beef and offal. Up until now, only boneless beef from cattle under 30 months of age could be exported to Singapore.

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), worked with the UK Export Certification Partnership to advocate the change with Defra and the Agrifood and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).

QMS which was exhibiting at the international Trade Fair, Food and Hotel Asia (FHA), in Singapore, to promote Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI, pointed out the market in Asia offers huge potential for Scotch Beef sales to grow in the coming years.

“This is great news for the Scottish red meat industry," said Laurent Vernet, director of strategic engagement with QMS.

"There is currently a steady flow of Scotch Beef being exported to Singapore, and we have seen a lot of interest in the product from the premium food service industry at the show.

“The premium price of Scotch Beef faces steep competition from quality meat from other parts of the world. AVA’s decision to accept imports of bone-in beef, beef offal and beef from older animals from Scotland will therefore give our country a strong commercial advantage over other British nations and an excellent opportunity to help boost Scotch Beef sales in this very lucrative market.”

There are currently three processors in Scotland accredited to export beef to Singapore and QMS will continue to support further Scottish companies interested in this booming market.