The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, has announced that another Irish beef plant has now been approved for export to China.
The news comes in advance of a Ministerial Trade Mission to China, which will take place in May, where the Minister revealed he will try to progress sheep meat access to China as well.
Now some 12 Irish meat plants have been approved for export, seven beef plants and five pigmeat plants.
Creed added that the geographic spread of these plants, with knock-on benefits to farmers all across the country, is also notable.
Increasing Market Opportunities
“I am very pleased that the Chinese officials in GACC have been able to complete this part of the registration process,” the Minister said.
“This is a testament to my Department’s work in pursuing market access through technical, diplomatic and political channels. Increasing market opportunities for our exporters is a key component of the Food Wise 2025 strategy and our response to Brexit.”
Total Irish agri-food trade exports to China reached almost €795 million last year, making China our fifth largest market overall. It was the third largest dairy export market and the second largest pigmeat export market.
It is also a growing market for seafood and other food and drinks exports.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
