Bord Bia: China announcement 'testament to the quality of Irish beef'

Bord Bia say they will exploit market opportunities with Irish exporters after the announcement that China is to lift a ban on Irish beef.

The announcement came last night just a week after Irish beef returned to shelves in the United States.

Their CEO Aidan Cotter says the beef industry has already been boosted by the re-opening of the US market:

Mr Cotter said: "This is really good news for Irish beef, it's testament to the quality reputation of Irish beef from a country that really demands the highest quality standards.

"It also adds very significant momentum now to an industry that is making significant moves in the international market place following the launch of Irish beef in the United States last week after an absence there of some 17 years."

China is the biggest individual market in the world with a market of nearly 1.4 billion people.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said it will be significant for Irish beef farmers.

He said: "We can produce a premium product that can get us into markets like the United States and China like we have done in the last couple of weeks.

"We are the only country in the EU to have succeeded in doing that, and that says an awful lot about our production systems."