Now you can buy British ribs for Christmas for the first time – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
Every year, ribs come from countries such as Germany to Norway. This year there will be a tariff quota with British ribs, because Norway had to have a new trade agreement after Brexit. It shows auction figures from the Norwegian Directorate of Agriculture.
– Ribs have almost always been imported for Christmas. The pig has not ribbed itself as much as we would like it to have, says Nibio researcher Ivar Pettersen.
Before Brexit, the United Kingdom had access to import quotas to Norway, so-called EEA quotas.
– It was important for Norway and Norwegian business interests that good co-operation relations were continued for mutual benefit, he says.
– Sad
But far from everyone rejoices that the Christmas dinner can be made from imported meat.
– British ribs do not come on my plates, neither in the restaurant nor at home, says chef Lars Ludvig Jacobsen.
He runs the restaurant Jacob og Gabriel in Skien, and generally does not want to import meat.
– We scratch our heads with environmental issues, and import meat. It’s sad, he says.
For Jacobsen, good raw materials from local players are important.
– We have bought ribs and cuts of pork from Borgestad farm in Skien. We try to make the most of the whole animal. In addition, we know that these animals have had a good time, it is very important, says Jacobsen.
Barter with quotas
Norway exchanged quotas for ribs, sausages and eggs to sell seafood.
– The rib quota was one of several duty-free import quotas Norway gave up, in exchange for the United Kingdom giving Norwegian seafood better access after EU withdrawal, Pettersen says.
He thinks it is a sensible agreement for Norway.
– There are small quotas. We are down to a per mille level for the Norwegian market, including pork, says Pettersen.
The trade agreement between Norway and the United Kingdom included quotas for 100 tonnes of pork, 100 tonnes of ham and 50 tonnes of ribs for December.
A supplement
Leader of the Norwegian Farmers’ Association, Bjørn Gimming wants us to choose Norwegian ribs.
– We try to be as self-sufficient as possible with all types of meat. From this point of view, I think it is unfortunate that one had to give concessions to the UK on meat and ribs. This is basically 50,000 kilos of ribs we have lost value creation on in Norway, says leader of the Farmers’ Association Bjørn Gimming.
The buyer of half the quota with British ribs is Nortura’s subsidiary Noridane. Neither Nortura nor Noridane would comment on the case. Nortura is owned by the farmers.
Once it has opened up for meat imports, Gimming believes that it is okay for the farmers’ own company to take a share.
– These imports are a supplement in addition to what we manage and produce in Norway. Because this is normally handled by the players, the seller puts meat in the wholesale market, means that the prices are set so that there is no Norwegian production, says Gimming.
NRK has not succeeded in finding out who will sell the British rib.