April 29, 2024

Germany, China reach joint declaration to lift ban on German beef exports to China

Germany and China have signed two joint statements on the lifting of trade restrictions arising from bovine spongiform encephalopathy and on the export of apples.

During his trip to China, German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Özdemir and Yu Jianhua of the Main Customs Administration signed two bilateral agreements to continue moving towards the liberalisation of the food market for German agricultural exports.

Following several years of negotiations, a joint declaration has been reached on lifting the ban on the export of German beef to China due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

Germany has adopted comprehensive measures against BSE and has been free from the disease for years. Beef exports to China have not been possible since the BSE crisis of the early 2000s.

New talks are also expected to take place concerning German pork exports from areas unaffected by African swine fever (ASF).

In 2020, Germany exported 319,448 tonnes of fresh, chilled, or frozen pork to China (plus offal and fat). In 2023, there were only 739 tonnes.

Germany has taken comprehensive measures to combat the disease and there are currently no cases of ASF in domestic pigs. It has also limited ASF in its wild boar population to a small area through strict control and prevention measures.

- BMEL