This is a subscriber-only article
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the delegation arrived in Ireland in recent days will visit Liffey Meats’ processing plant in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, as well as Euro Farm Foods in Duleek, Co Meath, this week.
As it stands, Ireland only has clearance to export pigmeat to South Korea.
Large importer
South Korea is the sixth-largest importer of beef.
In the first quarter of 2017, it imported approximately 120,000t of beef. This was up from 105,000t for the same period in 2016.
Australia has been the biggest exporter of beef to South Korea. However, total exports of Australian beef have fallen dramatically due to a drought-driven reduction in the beef herd.
In the first quarter of 2017, total beef exports from Australia stood at 325,000t, down 50,000t on the same period last year.
China
Meanwhile, preparations are continuing for a likely visit of Chinese veterinary inspectors next month. As the Irish Farmers Journal exclusively revealed in May, a team of Chinese vets
The growth in beef imported by China has been enormous. In 2013, it imported just over 400,000t of beef and this figure is forecast to rise to 900,000t this year. This is nearly double the total Irish beef production. The process to get access to the Chinese market has been ongoing since China lifted the BSE ban on Irish beef in 2015. The process took a major step forward in April when Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed signed a protocol for the export of frozen beef from Ireland to China with his counterpart minister Zhi Shuping.
SHARING OPTIONS: