China imposes ban on British cheese imports

China has temporarily imposed a ban on British cheese imports after inspectors raised concerns over standards at an unnamed UK dairy.

During an audit, Chinese officials complained about maintenance, raw milk transport temperatures, chemical storage and air sanitisation.

However, it was reported that the unnamed dairy does not export any of its produce to China.

The ban is said to be applicable for all cheese made after 1 May 2014, which is also the date a new food safety law was introduced in China.

Under the new food safety law, overseas suppliers will be subject to checks.

UK Farming Minister George Eustice said that China’s decision is disappointing as British cheese is produced to the highest safety and quality standards.

"Food inspectors will now visit all factories exporting cheese to China to demonstrate their high standards, so these restrictions can be lifted as soon as possible," Eustice added.

The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) is carrying out its own compliance checks, and the temporary ban is expected to be lifted once the issue has been resolved.

Currently, the UK exports more than 11t of cheese to China annually.

Following the melamine scandal in 2008, in which several dairy companies including Mengniu Dairy were implicated for using melamine in milk and infant formula, the Chinese government has been introducing stricter regulations to ensure safety.