November 9, 2005

China approves additional Australian meat processing plants

China has approved an additional 10 meat processing plants in Australia, taking to 45 the number of plants authorised to export high-quality meat to China, Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran said Wednesday.

Australian beef, sheep and goat meat exports to China would increase as a result, McGauran said in a statement.

China imported about A$50 million of Australian meat in 2004, he said.

McGauran said China also wanted to negotiate and finalise a protocol on the import of Australian tripe.

A ban by China on the import of Australian animal heads, trotters, lungs and stomachs has been in place for a few years, but China wanted to finalise a tripe protocol as soon as possible with Australian officials due to visit China next week, he said.

"This is a promising development for the Australian meat processing industry and opens up a potentially large new market for tripe exports," he said.