Irish beef has been awarded the ‘quality shield’ in America

Irish beef has been marked with the US seal of approval.

The US Department of Agriculture has awarded the quality shield to our beef, which means it has finally been granted approval to be marked as a product of Ireland in American shops.

Bord Bia has said that this is a great step for Irish agriculture, as the beef will identify as Irish to US consumers.

This announcement comes on the first day of a week-long trade mission with the US.

The beef will have the USDA quality mark which guarantees that it has been raised on more than an 80 per cent grass diet; out to pasture for 6-8 months a year on from a sustainable, fully traceable quality-assured farm; and has been raised without the use of growth hormones.

Speaking to RTÉ News, the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed said that the development is "significant."

Mr Creed added that after his meetings with President Trump's trade representatives, it was "abundantly clear" his administration was "settling in still."