Ms O'Neill said: "Today’s announcement is a further boost for our pork exports following agreement by the Singapore authorities to accept meat from all the animals reared and processed in the north.

"This follows my recent announcement of a similar relaxation for beef and pork exports to South Africa."

The Minister continued: "This agreement is testament to the north’s high quality production standards. We have been able to capitalise on the successful inward inspection by Singaporean officials in July 2013.

"They were highly impressed with our beef production standards and as a result were willing to renegotiate the already agreed pork certificate in light of this."

Pork exports had been limited by a clause of origin which only permitted the export of meat sourced from animals born in the north.

The renegotiations have opened this market to meat from animals sourced from across the island of Ireland including those which were born in the south but reared by farmers in the north.

The Minister concluded: "This good news is of benefit to our farmers and processors alike and I hope in the coming months to be able to announce even more new market opportunities.

"With increasing export opportunities a key tenet of the Going for Growth strategy I am committed to using every lever available to me to assist our industry in achieving their ambitious growth targets."