August 9, 2007

China's ban on UK livestock deals "serious setback" to British livestock farmers

China's embargo of livestock and related products from UK over foot and mouth outbreak has spoiled the 18 months of what should have been a lucrative trade negotiated by British traders to Chinese importers.

The ban, which covers all hoofed animals, along with their meat, milk and other products, was largely academic as meat exports were already banned from the UK.

But it underlined how damaging the outbreak in Surrey would be to future trade as China's trade deals with UK was confined to exports of livestock.

The British Pig Executive (BPEX) was in advanced talks about starting trade in pig products that would have been worth millions of pounds a year.

Guy Attenborough, a spokesman for the Meat and Livestock Commission, said China represents a good market of pigs that Europeans aren't interested in.

He said pig parts such "ears, arseholes, and offal" could only be sold as pet food in Europe, but were "considered delicacies" in China. Attenborough said the ban was a "serious setback" for the 18-month negotiations.

He added it would take between six months and a year to return to the previous level of trade, if no new cases are discovered.

Last night, Scottish farmers were given permission to take cattle to slaughter under licence. English farmers outside the foot and mouth exclusion zone in Surrey hope to be allowed to do the same from as early as tomorrow.

If the disease is confined to Surrey, the industry and the government are expected to start talks with European officials about allowing the rest of the UK to be declared disease-free.