Belgian Meat Office: Consolidating our beef export is our challenge!
EuroMeatNews.com: How much beef is produced in Belgium and how much is exported? Which are the main destinations?
René Maillard, Belgian Meat: Belgium is producing nowadays about 220.000 tons of beef per year. We also import more or less 60.000 tons a year. We have been exporting 184.000 tons in 2016. 90 % of this exported beef is sent to the Member States of the European Union.
Main destinations are the Netherlands with 61.000 tons, France with 39.500 tons and Germany with 29.000 tons. Outside Europe, the main exports are being done to Subsaharan Africa.
EMN: How much does beef account for from the total meat consumption on the local market?
RM: Most popular in quantities are pork and poultry which are tough competitors in the same price range. Beef is a more expensive product but still very popular as the Belgian national dish is still “steak and chips“. Beef is a traditional dish for family reunions or lunches with friends. Eating beef together is socially very important and has a subsequent reputation.
EMN: What is the Belgian Meat Office position regarding the banned halal meat production in Belgium? How are meat producers affected?
RM: Halal slaughtering is not forbidden in Belgium. But the animals have to be stunned before killed in a ritual way. We can
understand that traditional Muslims want to stick to their literal interpretation of the Quran and prescriptions that they have followed for centuries. But also they have to understand that in modern Western society respect for animal welfare is growing and that all people have to adapt to the new situation. The world is a perpetuum mobile. Things keep on changing. Also in Saudi Arabia, women are now authorized to drive a car.
EMN: How large is the Belgian halal meat market?
RM: We have an important Muslim minority in Belgium that are halal product eaters. Our schools in Brussels, for instance,
are also adapting themselves in providing those Muslim pupils halal food in the school canteens.
EMN: What do you expect from 2018 in terms of trends and turnover in the beef sector?
RM: We may expect in the midterm that production and consumption will be under pressure in the EU. In 2017 and 2018 there
was a small uplift in production and demand due to the improving economic situation in Europe. We have to realise that Europe is
a very mature market and that the population tend to eat less meat.
Quite different from most Asian countries were the economy is growing fast, the disposable income is increasing every year and
the meat consumption getting bigger and bigger. The best example is the growing consumption of beef by the Chinese.
EMN: How was 2017 for the Belgian meat sector?
RM: Belgian retail is restructuring and evolving quickly. Consequently, we see that the beef landscape in Belgium is moving too. We have seen mergers and acquisitions in the Belgian beef industry. This is an on-going trend.
EMN:What are the main objectives of Belgian Meat Office for this year?
RM: In the domestic market, it is important to restore trust in Belgian beef, as it is under attack by the animal welfare activists, the vegans and other members of the anti-meat lobby. For us it is important that people have a choice, a free choice, not
being imposed what to eat. Consolidating our beef export position is every year again our challenge.
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