China’s customs agency GACC has renewed export licences for Irish dairy co-ops to sell products such as butter, cheese and milk powders into the Chinese market for another four-year period. The licences will give Irish co-ops access to China until 2023.

Conor Mulvihill, director of Dairy Industry Ireland, welcomed the news as a significant boost for the primary dairy industry and dairy farmers in Ireland.

“This gives certainty for dairy companies across Ireland for the next four years in a key market and is a great vote of confidence on the quality of our product and the strength of our safety systems,” said Mulvihill.