August 16, 2006

 

Ireland aims to export beef to China

 

 

Ireland's food industry is looking at beef export to China after gaining access to its pork market.

 

The country's food promotion board, Bord Bia, said the channels used to open up pork access would be used for that of beef, adding that Chinese authorities had been receptive to that suggestion so far.

 

Beef is Ireland's largest export, and the country is the largest net exporter in the northern hemisphere.

 

Ireland's beef may have an edge over US beef because it tests all its beef for mad cow disease, said David Eiffe, Bord Bia's Asia manager.

 

However, he warned that Bord Bia took more than two years to gain approval for its pork so exporters should not expect beef exports to China to start anytime soon.

 

Ireland's top two pork processors, Glanbia Meats and Dawn Pork & Bacon, have recently been approved by the Chinese authorities to export to the country and are waiting for the final certificates to be issued before shipments start.

 

China is the world's largest pork producer and consumer, and its market is expected to expand in the years ahead.

 

Last year, per capita pork consumption reached 33 kilogrammes, higher than the world average, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.

 

European pork processors are hoping to cash in on China as parts not valued in Europe can be worth more in China than prime cuts at home.

 

While processors have to fork out money to destroy unwanted parts, the same is welcomed in China, Eiffe said.