Irish meat, milk and dairy products from all parts of the State except Co Louth may continue to be exported to the EU. No live animals may be exported to the EU from any part of the State.
From Co Louth, heat-treated cooked meats and dairy products may be exported to the EU.
Discussions are continuing with the US, our most important non-EU market for dairy products, on conditions which will satisfy its stringent import regulations. But Japan, our most valuable market for pigmeat outside Europe, has banned all imports of meats from cloven-hoofed animals.
There are no primary meat processors in Co Louth. The Heinz pizza and ingredients plant in Dundalk, which produces cooked or further processed food, has been approved for derogation from the ban. Mr Michael Duffy, chief executive of An Bord Bia, said the decision yesterday allowed the industry to put in place procedures for the certification of products to satisfy customers that the place of origin was outside Co Louth. This certification would be provided by the Department of Agriculture.
"The issue is to keep the trade moving within the EU by confirming the origin of the products, whether meat or dairy. Three-quarters of our trade is with the EU. With other countries, the process is to deal on a one-to-one basis," he said.
The EU accounts for 70 per cent of our animal product exports, worth around £2 billion annually.
In its quarterly economic review, Goodbody Stockbrokers last night said the outbreak could reduce exports by over £500 million.
Hong Kong yesterday banned the import of all of live cattle, pigs, sheep and goats from Ireland, writes Miriam Donohue, Asia Correspondent.
Hong Kong's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation said: "We have suspended the import of cloven-hoofed animals from the Republic of Ireland in view of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease there."
Meanwhile, China has introduced strict inspection measures at major ports and airports to safeguard against the disease.