Chinese officials to inspect Irish beef facilities for imports

China will send a team of food inspectors to Ireland to inspect the beef processing plants before beginning Irish meat imports.

The veterinary inspectors from China will officially inspect Irish beef slaughtering and processing facilities at the beginning of December.

The Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney has signed an agreement with the Chinese Government to this effect.

The minister said that the initiative would open the gates for the Irish beef industry to enter the Chinese retail market before the end of June next year.

Coveney said: "I am delighted to have secured agreement from my Chinese counterpart to send a formal inspection team to Ireland in December.

"This follows intensive technical engagement between my department and the relevant Chinese authorities over the past two years.

"Demand for beef in China is expected to rise by one million tonnes over the next five years, and I am determined that Irish farmers and processors should have access to this critically important market.

The inspection by the Chinese food safety authority, the ASQIQ, would include complete audits of all aspects of the systems and plants in Ireland.

The Independent.ie stated that China has long-running bans on beef imports from all but six countries, Australia, Uruguay, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina and Costa Rica.

However, the country is currently working with two other countries apart from Ireland, Canada and the US, to allow imports.

Coveney’s recent visit to China has secured Ireland a ‘key first step’ to export sheepmeat to the country.

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Image: Minister Coveney meeting with the Chinese Minister for Agriculture Han Changfu. Photo: courtesy of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.