Northern Ireland's exemption from the EU ban on the export of meat and meat products is not being recognised worldwide, it emerged today.
A shipment of pork from has been turned away by Japan despite Northern Ireland being clear of foot-and-mouth disease and being told by Brussels that it is clear to continue exporting.
Grampian Food, which has other shipments on their way to the United States and Germany, has called a temporary halt to exports until it can get the situation resolved.
Hugh McReynolds, managing director of the Cookstown, Co Tyrone, pork processing company, said: "The Japanese authorities took the view that because we are a plant with a UK health number they would prevent the goods from entering the country."
He said the company had told the Japanese that Northern Ireland had a separate region status and was exempt from the export ban, but that yesterday morning the situation had not been clarified by the EU enough for the Japanese authorities.
Mr McReynolds said he was working with the Department of Agriculture in Belfast and its counterpart in London to resolve the problems.
PA