BORD BIA, the food board, is optimistic Ireland's £11 million lamb trade with Germany will not be affected by a new row between the Germans and the British over sheepmeat.
Officials in Bonn have warned consumers not to eat British lamb or mutton until scientists determine whether BSE can be transmitted to sheep.
The Department of Agriculture said Ireland's 50,000 sheep flocks were virtually free of "scrapic", the agent which scientists believe caused BSE in cows when it was fed in bonemeal form to them. "There have been less than 10 cases of the disease each year in the past 10 years. It is a notifiable disease here in Ireland and is not indigenous in the national flock."
The Bord Bia spokeswoman, Ms Patricia Murray, said Ireland's offices in Germany will emphasise that Irish lamb is safe.
