China to inspect Irish meat export facilities

Ireland has taken a major step to becoming the first EU country to gain access to China’s beef market, with China is expected to start inspections of meat export facilities in Ireland in December.

If the inspections are successful, Ireland could begin exporting beef to China in 2015.

China has banned beef imports from EU countries ever since the outbreak of the mad cow disease in the late 1980s. The United States and UK are also seeking permission to sell beef in China.