China inspects UK beef sector on BSE
A Chinese delegation is visiting Great Britain to carry an inspection on BSE that can eliminate a 20-year ban imposed on British beef by the government in Beijing.
Five members of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) arrived on Sunday as part of a nine-day visit to look at the country’s BSE controls, informs Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
The delegation will visit farms, abattoirs, a BSE testing laboratory and render sites as well as meet with UK government officials in order to finish the evaluation on the country's BSE control.
For the British part, this mission is crucial for unlocking access to the Chinese beef market as estimates made by market analysts shows that British beef exports could be worth £250 million in the first five years.
"This is an important next step in our ambitions to export high-quality British beef to the growing Chinese market. Unlocking access to China will bring huge benefits to beef producers here in the UK", believes AHDB International Market Development Director Dr Phil Hadley. An agreement on pork exports to China was signed in 2012 and the exports value was about £74 million in 2016, informs ADHB.
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