Beef exports to China to resume, says Leo Varadkar 

Irish beef exports to China were suspended in May 2020 due to the occurrence of an atypical BSE case. Picture: iStock

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that beef exports to China will resume, following a series of meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Mr Varadkar said: “China is reopening its market to Irish beef, which is very positive and will be welcomed by farmers around the country and also the food industry.” 

The resumption of beef exports is to come into effect from today. 

Speaking to reporters after the departure of Mr Qiang from Farmleigh House, the Taoiseach said: “They’ve accepted our scientific data that the BSE case was an atypical case and that allows us to re-open that export market, which is important for Irish farmers, for the food industry because the more markets we have, the better price we get and the less risk of volatility as well.” 

Beef exports to China were initially suspended in November 2023 following an atypical case of BSE, which was picked up by the Department of Agriculture. However, the department said that the case did not enter either the food or feed chain.

The Chinese market had previously been suspended for three years after a BSE case was discovered in 2020, with the market only reopening in early 2023.

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said the Government had provided the technical and scientific data to Chinese authorities to reassure them of the atypical nature of the BSE case.

“China’s decision to resume Irish beef imports on the same conditions as before represents a clear vote of confidence in Ireland’s food safety systems and in the output of its beef sector,” Mr McConalogue said in a statement welcoming the move.