(Ecofin Agency) - South Africa has just announced the reopening of its market to beef imports from France. The information was revealed in a communiqué jointly signed by the South African State Secretary in charge of Foreign Trade Matthias Fekl and French Minister of Agriculture Stéphane Le Foll (photo).

The ban remained in place due to risks linked to the mad cow disease. It is however worth noting that the agreement between the two parties will only apply on boneless beef and offal, even though the French are still hoping to see the negotiations lead to complete access to the South African market.

For French breeders, the rainbow nation represents a growth market. Indeed the country which consumes about 892,000 tons of beef per year should see its demand increase by 28% by 2024.

South Africa is the third country to lift the embargo on French beef exports this year. A decision which follows the decision from World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to consider the risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease as “controlled” in France.