'Important next step' in restoring beef market access to China
Irish beef exports to China were temporarily suspended due to a case of atypical BSE last month.
An "important next step" has been made in restoring beef market access to China, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Irish beef exports to China were temporarily suspended due to a case of atypical BSE last month.
The protocol with China requires exports to be suspended pending submission and assessment of the epidemiological report.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Martin Heydon said that a "detailed and comprehensive" report on the atypical BSE cases was submitted to Beijing on December 4.
The minister hosted a high-level delegation from the General Administration of Customs (GACC) from the People’s Republic of China last week in Agriculture House to discuss the suspension of Irish beef exports.
GACC is the body responsible for customs, border checks, and inspections on animal product imports into China.
The delegation is led by GACC vice minister Li Kuiwen.
Mr Heydon said it was an "excellent opportunity to engage with vice minister Li and senior Chinese officials".
"Ireland’s agri-food exports to China were valued at over €670m in 2022 and this trade is built on our reputation for producing safe sustainable food," Mr Heydon said.
"At the meeting, my department delivered a detailed presentation on the effectiveness of Ireland’s BSE control and surveillance programmes."
Submission of the epidemiological report is an "important next step" in restoring beef market access to China, Mr Heydon said.
"I am confident that it gives the Chinese authorities the assurances necessary to advance the process of resuming Irish beef exports as soon as possible," he said.
"I urged them to expedite their consideration of this. I also raised our request for expanding access for Irish beef once the temporary suspension has been lifted."
