In this week’s USMEF audio report, technical services manager, Dr. Travis Arp discusses Vietnam’s recent removal of BSE-relatred restrictions on imports of U.S. beef. They now are accepting a full range of cuts from U.S. cattle of all ages.

Dr. Arp explains, that Vietnam reopened to boneless U.S. beef cuts in 2005 and added bone-in cuts in 2006. But in both cases, access was limited to beef from cattle less than 30 months of age. With this latest development, exporters can now ship a full range of beef cuts and face fewer regulatory hurdles when serving the Vietnamese market. For example, no USDA export verification (EV) program is needed, and segregation of cattle at the processing plant is no longer required.

Vietnam is also a participant in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. Full access to the Vietnamese market will allow the U.S. beef industry to better capitalize on tariff rate reductions that may be achieved through the TPP.