It would appear Ireland is no closer to getting access to the lucrative Chinese beef market.

As part of a trade mission, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed met officials from the Chinese Quarantine Inspection Service in Beijing on Wednesday in the next step to negotiating access for Irish beef into the Chinese market. During the meeting the Chinese committed to fast-tracking the completion of a report on inspections they carried out last January. Some industry sources expected that Irish officials might have received results in Beijing on Wednesday, but that did not materialise.

Speaking after the meeting, Creed said: “On beef, the process of approval is complex, and involves a number of the Chinese Services. However, I am particularly encouraged that the Chinese officials have undertaken to ensure they will move fast on Irish access for beef to China and complete a report on inspections last January.”

All the leading meat processors in Ireland were represented in China this week as the trade mission made its way from Vietnam to China and down to Singapore. Junior Agriculture Minister Andrew Doyle led the first leg of the mission.

Pork, chicken, and seafood are all ahead of beef in the pecking order of choice for the Chinese consumer but Bord Bia analysis has shown a segment of the Chinese market will be willing to pay a premium for beef from Ireland.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal in Beijing, Bord Bia CEO Aidan Cotter said: “Ireland’s good reputation in China is gaining traction thanks to the success of our dairy and pigmeat exports.

“Irish pigmeat exports for the first five months of 2016 have increased by 16% to 108,000t compared with the corresponding period in 2015. Minister Creed made a strong case for access to China for Irish beef today and our consumer insight team believe Chinese consumers are prepared to pay a premium for quality beef.”

In other trade mission news, Dairygold, Teagasc Moorepark, Keenan’s, and Alltech all signed memorandums of understanding with Chinese companies in an effort to increase their trade in China and build on existing links.

The trade mission ends this weekend.