Irish animal feed company first in world to win China import licence

Irish animal feed company Red Mills has become the first in the world to secure a licence to import horse feed into mainland China.

The company, which is based at Goresbridge in Co Kilkenny, said it was difficult to guess the value of its business with China, but estimates its potential worth at several million euro.

Red Mills already exports to six Asian markets. It began exporting to Japan in 2006.

The Department of Agriculture, today signed the agreement for the animal feed licence with Chinese officials in Beijing during the Agri Services Trade Mission to China being led by Minister for Agriculture, Food and The Marine, Simon Coveney.