No timeline was given as to when Irish beef will regain access to China at last week’s trade mission to the country, the Department of Agriculture has said.

A Department spokesperson said Minister of State with responsibility for fisheries Timmy Dooley, who led the Irish delegation to China, raised the issue of Irish beef access with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) vice minister.

“The minister raised a number of market access issues including the reopening of access for Irish beef with the GACC vice minister.

“GACC welcomed the high-level discussion, however there was no indication of a timeline for reopening. It was agreed officials will engage further on this matter,” they added.

Irish beef has been locked out of China for over a year now.

Its access was temporarily rescinded in October 2024 following an atypical case of BSE.

This has happened several times since Irish beef first hit the Chinese market in 2018.