Export of Parma Ham to Australia Given Green Light

28.11.06

Parma, 28 November 2006 – An agreement has finally been reached with the relevant Australian authorities for the importation of Parma ham into Australia.

Official Australian sources today informed Italian authorities that it will be possible to begin exporting Parma ham to Australia immediately.

In practice, companies that are already authorised for the American market will be automatically entitled to export to Australia.

Parma ham, which leads the European raw ham market with an output of 10 million units and a retail value of €1.8 billion, is consumed in over 60 markets worldwide.  More than 1,700,000 hams are exported for an export turnover of more than €500 million.  Most of the product is destined for the Italian market; members of the Parma Ham Consortium (Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma) currently export around 20% of total production.

Just under 80% of exports are to Europe, while the rest of the world comprises around 20%.  Among the importing countries, three large markets particularly stand out: the United States, Japan and Canada.  Among the Consortium’s latest successes it is worth noting the opening up of the following markets:  Singapore, New Zealand, Lithuania, Iceland, South Korea and China.

There is great satisfaction at the Parma Ham Consortium for this latest important gain, which Parma’s producers had been working to achieve for many years. “After Korea and China, another important market for Parma ham has been opened up: Australia.  We are extremely pleased: our product is now enjoyed at the dinner table in more than 60 countries around the world, and is recognised everywhere as a symbol of the excellence of Italian produce,” said Stefano Tedeschi, President of the Parma Ham Consortium.

“We would therefore like to thank,” continued Tedeschi, “the Ministries of Health, Agricultural, Forestry and Food Policy, and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Embassy in Canberra, for having conducted negotiations with the relevant Australian authorities in an exemplary manner, tenaciously supporting the Consortium’s activities in opening up this market”.

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