Answering a parliamentary question from Deputy Michael Harty on the progress being made by the Irish Government on gaining access for Irish beef into China, the minister said there is still some way to go before full access is achieved.
The first step on the road was getting the BSE ban lifted, which happened as long ago as February 2015. Many people thought that was it and Irish beef would quickly be on Chinese shelves.
However, it was was not until January 2016 that the Department of Agriculture hosted a 10-day inspection visit by a team from China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). The Department received a copy of their report relatively recently and have replied to their findings.
Although timelines are very difficult to predict in this process, I hope that such inspections will take place in 2017
Next steps
Minister Creed said that assuming the Department's response to these findings is positive, the next steps are to agree a protocol and a veterinary health certificate with the Chinese authorities.
It will also be necessary for Irish meat establishments to be individually approved by the Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) before they are able to export to China.
"Although timelines are very difficult to predict in this process," Creed said, "I hope that such inspections will take place in 2017."
Creed added that while beef access to China "is a very high priority", his Department is also pursuing beef access to a number of other third countries including Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Ukraine, and is working to simplify certification procedures in a number of markets to which Ireland already has access.
"My Department will continue to work very closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Bord Bia, the industry and the European Commission on these issues," he told the deputy.
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Another step on long march to China
Answering a parliamentary question from Deputy Michael Harty on the progress being made by the Irish Government on gaining access for Irish beef into China, the minister said there is still some way to go before full access is achieved.
The first step on the road was getting the BSE ban lifted, which happened as long ago as February 2015. Many people thought that was it and Irish beef would quickly be on Chinese shelves.
However, it was was not until January 2016 that the Department of Agriculture hosted a 10-day inspection visit by a team from China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). The Department received a copy of their report relatively recently and have replied to their findings.
Although timelines are very difficult to predict in this process, I hope that such inspections will take place in 2017
Next steps
Minister Creed said that assuming the Department's response to these findings is positive, the next steps are to agree a protocol and a veterinary health certificate with the Chinese authorities.
It will also be necessary for Irish meat establishments to be individually approved by the Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) before they are able to export to China.
"Although timelines are very difficult to predict in this process," Creed said, "I hope that such inspections will take place in 2017."
Creed added that while beef access to China "is a very high priority", his Department is also pursuing beef access to a number of other third countries including Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Ukraine, and is working to simplify certification procedures in a number of markets to which Ireland already has access.
"My Department will continue to work very closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Bord Bia, the industry and the European Commission on these issues," he told the deputy.
Read more
Another step on long march to China
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