Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue TD has announced the resumption of access for Irish beef exports to China.
Beef shipments to China had been suspended following the confirmation in November 2023 of an isolated case of atypical BSE.
Atypical BSE occurs sporadically in all cattle populations at a very low rate and is not considered a public health risk.
The case was detected by the Department’s surveillance programme, did not enter the feed or food chain and posed no risk to human health.
Intense negotiations followed after the precautionary suspension.
Today, Minster McConalogue said China’s decision to resume Irish beef imports on the same conditions as before represents a “clear vote of confidence in Ireland’s food safety systems” and in the output of its beef sector.
He said: “Negotiating the resumption of beef access has been a top priority for me since the temporary suspension last November. Utilising relationships that have been developed over recent years, my Department has engaged at diplomatic, political and technical levels to provide the scientific and technical detail needed to reassure the Chinese authorities of the effectiveness of Ireland’s BSE controls. These efforts culminated in the presentation of detailed epidemiological information to China in early December, and my department delivered a detailed presentation to GACC Vice Minister Li Kuiwen at a face-to-face meeting in Dublin last month. I wish to thank the Chinese experts for their positive and constructive approach to this matter. ”
