Irish company Kepak Group has been granted access by the US Administration to export burgers to the United States.
The move gives the firm access to the US restaurant burger market, which is worth more than $122bn.
The company is the first EU-based meat processor to receive approval for the supply, marketing and distribution of Irish beef in a value-added format of beef burgers into the US market.
The announcement is good news for Co Monaghan, the meat to be exported to the US will all be produced and processed at the Kepak facility in Ballybay.
Kepak established a retail brand, 'Celtic Beef Company' in 2017 in the United States and today's announcement means that Irish beef in burger patty format will now be available in the US for the first time.
The company made the announcement at Anuga, the world's largest trade fair for food and beverages in Cologne, Germany.
The Managing Director of the Kepak Group John Horgan said: "This announcement will see Kepak's renowned Irish beef burger patties made available in pubs and restaurants from Monaghan to Manhattan and Massachusetts.
"Kepak North America, the Group's sales and marketing office in USA, has been busy growing the sales our Irish beef since the launch of our Celtic Beef Company brand a number of years ago and this new burger range will enhance our foodservice offering and allow us to build upon the tremendous success in retail channels that we have already enjoyed in the region."
Also commenting on the deal from Anuga, Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture, Andrew Doyle said the announcement was, "most welcome news, particularly for the local community in Monaghan where this meat will be produced.
"Today's news is a testament both to the high-quality beef that Irish farmers are world famous for producing and to the market access work of my Department in cooperation with the US authorities."
