Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed announced in Beijing on Monday that, following discussions with the Chinese Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu, three more Irish beef factories are being approved to start beef exports to China.

Minister Creed would not disclose the names of the factories as it was protocol for the Chinese authorities to make the announcement.

ABP Clones, Slaney Foods and Foyle Donegal have already received approval and a further five factories were on standby with approval expected soon.

A further pig meat processor has also been granted access and as McCarron’s were the only pig meat exporter that were awaiting approval it is expected to be them.

Sheepmeat access

The Minister also confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that he had raised the question of sheepmeat access but that the approval process was just beginning.

He referred to the establishment of a high level working group between the Governments of Ireland and China which he expects will progress this, as well as widening the approval of beef exports to China which is currently confined to frozen beef under 30 months.

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