The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) contacted Lithuanian Agriculture Minister Virginija Baltraitiene and informed her that public deliberation over granting export permits, which began last December, was completed in Washington.
"This is good news. A new, promising and wealthy market has opened to Lithuanian meat producers. Our products are of high quality, therefore American consumers will indeed like them," said the agriculture minister.
Lithuania has become the second country in the European Union after Ireland which was allowed to export beef to the US.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, the FSIS has yet to approve certificates which were harmonised earlier. Companies that wish to export meat to the US will have to coordinate labelling of goods with the FSIS.
