The Netherlands will be exporting pork to China for the first time this fall, according to media reports.

Two Dutch pork processing companies - Boxtel-based Vion Food Group and Helmond-based Van Rooi Meat - have received the green light from Chinese authorities for shipping pork to China, the Dutch Product Board for Livestock, Meat and Eggs reported.

The Dutch government has attempted to open up the Chinese market for its pork products for years. In 2008, an agreement was reached, after which the Chinese have started inspecting Dutch slaughter plants. Until now, only intestines had been allowed to be exported from the Netherlands to China.

China can become a very important market for Dutch exports as there is a large market for what are considered 'by-products' in the Netherlands, like trotters and organs.