Lifting of US export ban on beef boosts Welsh farmers, says union
The lifting of a 15-year export ban on beef to the United States is "fantastic news", said a farming union in Wales.
The US authorities banned European beef imports in the 1990s when concerns were raised over BSE infecting the human food chain.
The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) said lifting the ban was an opportunity to get into a new market.
It added beef and lamb exports to the US could be worth more than £60m a year to farmers in the European Union.
"This is fantastic news, not just for the British beef industry but also for us Welsh farmers," said FUW livestock, wool and marts committee chairman Dafydd Roberts.
"Beef and lamb exports to the US could be worth more than £60m a year but it is of course going to take some time to show the US what fantastic quality beef we produce in this country."
Exports will not begin immediately as there are still some issues to resolve.
"We still need to have our meat inspection systems recognised as equivalent to those in the US, but once this has been overcome I hope that American consumers will be enjoying quality Welsh beef," Mr Roberts added.