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.
"Scotland's produce is amongst the best in the world and I've asked US Department of Agriculture officials to come here to see for themselves the high standards we have in animal health and processing.
"This will help them realise that our haggis is produced to the highest standards and that it's time to allow imports to resume."
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