STONELEIGH PARK, UK — More United Kingdom beef could be headed to the United States soon after British government officials agreed on another step of an export deal worth around £66 million over the first five years.

According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), the United States agreed to equivalence standards on the UK’s disease control measure after inspections took place in summer 2019. That means when administrative details are finalized, beef can be shipped to the United States.

“This is another fantastic boost for industry,” said Dr. Phil Hadley, AHDB international market development director. “(The) announcement is a crucial step in our ambitions to gain market access for our beef and lamb, to go with our existing pork trade, to the all-important US market.”

Organizations throughout the UK have been negotiating the specifics for this portion of a trade deal.

AHDB said that inspections took place at five beef sites in August 2019 along with four pork and lamb sites and several laboratories.

“We have worked collaboratively with industry and government to get this agreement and we will continue to work to get this partnership over the line and to see our products in the US market,” Hadley continued. “Once the final administrative details are carried out, commercial trade will begin.”

All inspections done in the United States were financed with a £2 million fund of AHDB red meat levies ring-fenced for collaborative projects which is managed by Britain’s three meat levy bodies: AHDB, Meat Promotion Wales and Quality Meat Scotland.