Date published:
4 August 2025

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has welcomed Northern Ireland being given the green light to export pork to Mexico.

The announcement was made by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) following confirmation of approval from the Mexican Service for the National Health for Food Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA).

The new UK export deal will provide a £19 million boost to the UK food industry, according to Defra. In Northern Ireland, two slaughterhouses and one cold store have received approval to export produce to Mexico.

Welcoming the deal, Minister Muir said: “I welcome the news that Mexico has granted approval for the UK to export pork to its markets which follows joint efforts by Defra and DAERA. Partnership working between industry, government, key stakeholders and the Mexican food authorities has been instrumental in getting this agreement across the line.”

Minister Muir concluded: “This is an important achievement for our agri-food sector, allowing it to showcase the excellent standards of Northern Irish pork and helping to reinforce Northern Ireland’s reputation as a trusted supplier of high quality food products.”

The agreement is in place until June 2027.

Notes to editors:

  1. In total, 12 businesses across England and Northern Ireland have been approved to export pork to Mexico until June 2027. This includes approval of two Northern Ireland slaughter plants (Karro in Cookstown, Cranswick Country Foods in Ballymena) and one cold store (Interfrigo in Antrim).
  2. The approval follows a number of audits by the Mexican Service for the National Health for Food Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA).
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