The deal was made following talks between Australian Minister for Trade and Competitiveness, Dr Craig Emerson, and his counterparts in India. An official release from the Australian government said: “Australian lamb is being allowed into India free of quotas, based on Australia’s compliance with India’s food safety requirements”.
India’s meat consumption is increasing rapidly as the country becomes more wealthy, with 170 million Indians now considered middle-class. India is already Australia’s fourth-biggest export market and the two countries trade around $18bn-worth of goods annually.
“India’s economic growth is creating a rapidly expanding middle-class that is looking for quality products of the sort Australia readily provides,” said Dr Emerson.
“Working with India to have our lamb enter this massive market is exactly the sort of co-operation we are seeking with the countries of Asia to drive Australia’s prosperity.”
The deal has been welcomed by Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Joe Ludwig.
“The Gillard Government is committed to helping them take their product to the world and India is an important new growth market,” he said.
“I look forward to continuing to work with Australian producers and the Trade Minister to get the best results for Australian exporters.”