February 16, 2011

China calls for reports of meat imports

China's commerce ministry has directed meat importers to provide twice-a-month updates on volumes of meat imported by country of origin.

Buyers of pork, beef and mutton as well as meat by-products have to begin the reports to the ministry from April 1, the ministry said.

China's reporting system, similar to weekly reports conducted by the USDA, started several years ago to cover soy, soyoil, soymeal as well as rapeseed, rapeseed oil, rapeseed meal and palm oil. Dairy products were later added to the list, with meat being added last.

China, the world's second-largest economy, is likely to import more meat this year to meet rising domestic demand. China has also agreed to resume imports of beef from the US, Canada and Argentina.