Walsh talks with Chinese group has huge potential for food exports

Ray Ryan, Agribusiness Correspondent

The agency is known as AQSIQ, or the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China. It is responsible for all controls on imports into China, including industrial products and all food and agricultural products. Mr Walsh said the visit led by vice-minister Ge Zhirong, was both welcome and timely.

The importance of trade to both countries was huge and the enormous potential for further development of this trade by Ireland was something he was very keen to pursue. Mr Walsh said the visit would allow the Chinese import control agency the opportunity to see for themselves the range of food and agriculture products Ireland has for export and the high quality and standards imposed at all stages of the production and processing chain. There were particular product areas for which outlets had been identified in China such as pigmeat, and others such as milk products, in which trade was already taking place.