Meat Industry Ireland (MII) – the Ibec sector organisation representing the country’s main primary beef-processing companies – welcomes the resumption of beef exports to China.
The news was recently announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.
‘Long Awaited’
Welcoming the news, Philip Carroll, MII chair, said, “The resumption of beef exports to China is a long-awaited and welcome decision, and will widen the scope for beef exports over the coming years.
“The suspension of Ireland’s beef exports to China was a major loss to the entire beef sector, just as sales to this important new market were set to ramp up.
“The decision in 2020 to temporarily suspend trade was due to a single case of atypical BSE that was detected by the department and notified to the Chinese authorities, as part of the protocols associated with access to the Chinese market.”
‘Renew And Further Develop’
Carroll said that the move will now enable companies to renew and further develop trade opportunities, which have been disrupted for the past two and a half years, with customers in China.
According to the Ibec group, MII beef processors will work with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to finalise the necessary steps, so that trade can recommence quickly.
MII noted that it ‘acknowledges with thanks the efforts of the Minister and officials in securing this breakthrough’.
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