Innovative and successful British cheese makers should be encouraged to establish export markets in the rest of Europe, North America and the Far East said Food and Farming Minister Lord Donoughue.

Key representatives of the UK cheese industry were brought together at a seminar to discuss what the cheese industry can do to improve its export potential.

Lord Donoughue said: "I think the UK makes some of the finest cheeses in the world, and I am convinced that we have a product which should be sold abroad.

"Since taking office, I have made it my business to find out why British cheese isn't more prevalent in other countries, what we can do to improve this, and how I can help.

"The British cheese industry is a serious one, and one that I think is undervalued. The retail value of the UK's domestic cheese sales (including imports) is £1.3 billion. There are around 300 cheese making companies in the UK, the majority of which are specialist cheese makers.

"UK cheese production was at an all time high in 1996, when we saw a 16 per cent increase in production between 1990 and 1996. Our cheese production represents 5.8 per cent of total EU production.

"The UK's main EU export destination for cheese is Ireland, earning a total of £34 million in 1996.

"Our main export destination outside of the EU for cheese is the United States, worth £20 million in 1996.

"This seminar provides a starting point, from which I hope we will identify a way forward in more successfully marketing British cheese."

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