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Scots attempt to overturn US ban on haggis

Scottish officials are attempting to persuade American politicians to reverse a 40-year ban on the haggis.

Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Government’s Rural Affairs Secretary, has invited a delegation of American politicians to Scotland in the hope of persuading them to overturn the ban.

The iconic Scottish dish is been barred in the US for more than 20 years because its food safety department prohibits the use of sheep lungs in food products.

The US could provide a highly lucrative market for Scottish haggis producers, particularly in the run up to Burns Night, the traditional celebration of the life and poetry of Robert Burns.

Mr Lochhead raised the matter with US authorities last year and said he hoped to persuade the delegation that “it’s time to allow imports to resume”.

Mr Lochhead said: “We want to capitalise on the diaspora of Scots in the US and many of them would enjoy the opportunity to indulge in authentic Scottish haggis to accompany their neeps and tatties on Burns Night.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .