Chinese inspectors are midway through their tour of Irish factories this week.

Slaney Meats confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that the inspectors were in its Bunclody plant on Wednesday. Inspectors viewed its boning hall, new lairage facility and processing lines where it handles close to 100,000 head of cattle annually.

The Chinese delegation will continue to other factories including Kepak Clonee, Dawn Charleville, McCarren Meats Limited, ABP Clones and Nenagh, Liffey Meats, Dunleavy Meats Ltd and Kildare Chilling.

It is also hoped that the delegation will visit Glanbia’s Belview plant as part of the itinerary.

Ireland has been trying to secure access to the market since 2015 when the BSE ban on this country was lifted.

If successful, the inspections should finally secure Irish access for beef to the lucrative Chinese market.

Read more

Best suckler farms make three times the profit of the average

Farmer anger over €100/head beef cuts