Chinese authorities are to speed up their inspection of Irish meats plants, with sheep plants and more beef plants to be audited in August.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is this week leading a trade mission to China and he confirmed the fast-tracking of inspections to the Irish Farmers Journal after a meeting with Chinese vice-minister Zhang Jiwen of the General Administration of Customs.
There are already seven Irish beef plants approved for export of frozen beef to China, as well as five pigmeat plants.
Chinese inspectors will return to Ireland in August to approve access for more beef plants. A further 12 factories applied for export approval in November 2018, but are still waiting. It is expected that approval for beef plants will follow soon after a successful inspection.
Minister Creed also announced that the Chinese authorities are going inspect sheepmeat plants, including a full systems audit. Sheepmeat is not currently being exported to China.
Getting export approval to China is a slow process, so speeding up the inspections timeline will be welcomed by those selling Irish beef.
China is an important market for Irish beef and pork. Over 2,000t of beef was exported to China since the market opened for Irish beef last autumn, with quantities increasing steadily since.
The outbreak of African swine fever is going to increase the demand for all meats in China. Total Irish agri-food trade exports to China reached almost €795m last year.
Speaking exclusively to the Irish Farmers Journal at the SIAL trade fair in Shanghai, Minister Creed said that total food exports to China will shortly breach the €1bn mark and the amount of beef being exported to China in 2019 will “more than double”.
Most of the demand for beef in China is mainly for what would traditionally be classed as lower value cuts such as shins, short ribs, brisket and other forequarter cuts.
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Beef exports to China will 'more than double' in 2019 – Creed
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Chinese authorities are to speed up their inspection of Irish meats plants, with sheep plants and more beef plants to be audited in August.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is this week leading a trade mission to China and he confirmed the fast-tracking of inspections to the Irish Farmers Journal after a meeting with Chinese vice-minister Zhang Jiwen of the General Administration of Customs.
There are already seven Irish beef plants approved for export of frozen beef to China, as well as five pigmeat plants.
Chinese inspectors will return to Ireland in August to approve access for more beef plants. A further 12 factories applied for export approval in November 2018, but are still waiting. It is expected that approval for beef plants will follow soon after a successful inspection.
Minister Creed also announced that the Chinese authorities are going inspect sheepmeat plants, including a full systems audit. Sheepmeat is not currently being exported to China.
Getting export approval to China is a slow process, so speeding up the inspections timeline will be welcomed by those selling Irish beef.
China is an important market for Irish beef and pork. Over 2,000t of beef was exported to China since the market opened for Irish beef last autumn, with quantities increasing steadily since.
The outbreak of African swine fever is going to increase the demand for all meats in China. Total Irish agri-food trade exports to China reached almost €795m last year.
Speaking exclusively to the Irish Farmers Journal at the SIAL trade fair in Shanghai, Minister Creed said that total food exports to China will shortly breach the €1bn mark and the amount of beef being exported to China in 2019 will “more than double”.
Most of the demand for beef in China is mainly for what would traditionally be classed as lower value cuts such as shins, short ribs, brisket and other forequarter cuts.
Read more
Beef exports to China will 'more than double' in 2019 – Creed
Listen: Irish food exports to China to hit €1bn soon – Creed
New beef factory approved for export to China
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