The Irish Farmers Journal understands a delegation of Chinese inspectors in the country this week is visiting the Slaney Meats facility in Bunclody, Co Wexford, on Wednesday.

Slaney’s processing facility in Bunclody is considered to be one of the best in the industry, with some €20m invested into the site since 2001.

A new boning hall was opened in 2010, as well as investment in a new lairage facility and processing lines. The factory processes close to 100,000 head of cattle per year, or about 6% of the national kill.

The inspections

This week, Chinese inspectors began a two-week inspection of factories in Ireland.

Inspectors from the China State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) will visit up to eight beef exporting factories, plus a dairy factory, a pig factory and a knackery.

There is still uncertainty if the AQSIQ certificate, which Ireland needs before exports can begin, will just cover the specific factories inspected, the entire groups, or if in fact it will extend to include all Irish beef.

Should the inspection be a success, it will be a major boost in securing access to the highly lucrative Chinese beef market, a process which began in 2015 with an announcement on lifting the BSE ban on Ireland.

Exports to China have rose 25% from 2015 to 2016, highlighting the growing trade between the two countries.

Read More

Chinese factory inspections begin next week

Exports to China up 25% in 2016