February 25, 2015
Irish beef regains access to China market
Irish beef has regained another large market after the lifting of a ban by China recently. Earlier in January the US lifted a similar ban that had lasted for 17 years. Both China and the US, however, still impose a ban on the rest of the EU member-countries, over bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, concerns.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney hailed the lifting of the Chinese ban as a very significant advancement for the country''s beef sector.
"This announcement follows on intensive political, technical and diplomatic engagement with the Chinese authorities over several years," he said.
Coveney said a significant breakthrough was made in November last year "when I led a major trade mission to China, involving leading Irish beef companies".
"My Chinese Agriculture counterpart, Minister Han Changfu, and his colleague Minister Shi Zhuping, who is responsible for inspection and quarantine, agreed at that time to send a veterinary inspection team to
Ireland.
The inspection, he added, was made in December and that the Irish food safety control system "passed with flying colours".
Coveney thanked the concerned Chinese authorities for "delivering an outcome which paves the way for Irish beef access to China".
As of 2009, beef consumption in Chinastood at 5 kg a year per person, compared with a measly 0.32 kg in the early 1980s. This is expected to further rise to over 6 kg per person by 2025, according to Coveney.
Current Chinese beef consumption is estimated at around 6 million tonnes and is expected to grow by over one million tonnes in the next five years.
Coveney said there is market potential for beef offals and high -quality steak cuts, among others, in China.
Coveney also pointed out that the lifting of the ban may not translate into immediate exportation of Irish beef as China will still determine which cuts can be exported and which processing plants can be allowed to export.
He said they would continue to deal with the concerned Chinese authorities to expedite the process.