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The Irish Farmers Journal understands that pigmeat exports to China from the Rosderra Meats plant in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, have been suspended.
The Chinese authorities de-listed the factory for export approval and the move is thought to be in connection with the outbreak of COVID-19 in the plant.
Any disruption in the market would have an impact on trade but Rosderra still retains its export approval for China for its larger Edenderry plant.
According to Bord Bia, China is Ireland’s second-largest market for pigmeat. Last year the value of exports to the country reached a record €176m.
This accounted for 89,640t of pigmeat – a 44% increase compared to the previous year.
Meat Industry Ireland
Meat Industry Ireland (MII) said the Chinese authorities have been asking competent authorities and exporters supplying countries for assurances in relation to COVID-19 measures.
MII said it is already working with the Department of Agriculture on such requests.
“Furthermore, the EU Commission has written to the Chinese authorities clarifying that neither the WHO, nor the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) nor the European Food Safety Authority identified any evidence that food was a likely source or transmission route of the virus,” they said.
MII said that 96% of staff that had tested positive had now recovered and were back at work, with the remaining number self-isolating and recovering.
Department of Health figures show that Ireland has seen its lowest weekly rise of coronavirus cases amongst meat workers since reporting started, with just two cases up to 20 June, bringing the overall number to 1,104.
More in this week’s Irish Farmers Journal.
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