Meat Industry Ireland prizes Chinese market

Meat Industry Ireland said it is to begin work as swiftly as possible on a plant audit process which will help secure access to Chinese markets for Irish beef and beef joint products.

The Ibec meat factories’ group said it welcomed the decision by the Chinese authorities to lift the ban on Irish beef.

Meat Industry Ireland said that it will now work with the Department of Agriculture to agree a protocol and veterinary certificate with the Chinese ministry.

Welcoming the reopening of the Chinese market to Irish produce, Meat Industry Ireland said: “This announcement recognises the effort of the Minister of Agriculture and his department in terms of developing relationships with their Chinese counterparts and also is an endorsement of the Irish food safety standards and quality management systems.

“While we understand that the lifting of the ban relates to beef from under 30 months old cattle, Meat Industry Ireland will be pushing to ensure that the access relates to bone-in and boneless beef and also to beef offals.”

IFA president Eddie Downey said the potential of the Chinese market could be very significant.