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As many as 25 beef processing facilities have applied for Chinese approval, with most expected not to be approved this year.
The Irish Farmers Journal has learned that Chinese authorities have set aside two inspection teams for two days, with the expectation that they will be in a position to approve two – or, at most, four – factories. It is also understood that as many 25 Irish exporters are seeking approval, which means that many would lose out.
Background
The signing of the protocol between Minister Creed and his Chinese counterpart in Dublin on 18 Aprilhas created a sense that we are entering the endgame for approval of Irish beef exports to China.
However, there are issues to be resolved before we cross the finish line with the first load of Irish beef exported to the most rapidly growing beef export market in the world.
The next step is for the Department of Agriculture and the Chinese authorities to finalise the export certificate.
It is believed that work on this is at an advanced stage, following the visit by the Chinese at the beginning of last year with the follow-up issues dealt with by the autumn.
Once the certificate is finalised, the final step in the approval process will be the inspection visits by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ)
This is where the process will get controversial, given the large number of factories looking for approval.
Enormous beef imports
With China’s beef imports expected to be approaching 900,000t this year – more than double the level of 400,000t as recently as 2013 – this is a particularly lucrative market.
It is the one third-country export destination that has real volume potential, likely to compete with France as Ireland’s second-most-important beef export market, after the UK.
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