Irish beef exports to China suspended after BSE case
Beef exports from the Republic of Ireland to China have been suspended after a case of atypical BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease, was detected in a cow.
Irish broadcaster RTÉ reports that the case was confirmed on Friday after tests were carried out by Irish Department of Agriculture vets on a dead 10-year-old cow that had been delivered for destruction.
The Chinese market had reopened to Irish beef exports in January, following a three-year closure due to a previous BSE case discovered in 2020.
Under a protocol agreed with China, beef exports have to be suspended when any BSE case is discovered.
It is understood any timetable for the resumption of beef exports is up to the Chinese authorities.
Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said on Wednesday he is hopeful Chinese authorities will reach a decision on the resumption of beef exports “within a matter of months”.
Mr Martin is currently on a four-day visit to China and said he was not concerned about damage to Ireland’s reputation.
“It is disappointing that this happened, but I think it’s a vindication of our controls,” Mr Martin said.
Commenting on the possibility of financial assistance for farmers affected by the development, Mr Martin said that Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue was dealing with the matter.
He said he believed the impact of the atypical case would be “quite limited” in terms of farmers trading with China, noting that Ireland exports beef to about 70 countries.
He added that he had highlighted the importance of beef and food exports to his Chinese counterparts.
RTÉ reports that shipments of Irish beef to China resumed in April, but that the current level of exports had been low, amounting to just over €16m (£13.9m) by the end of August.
BBC
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