Bluetongue Triggers Fresh China Ban on Irish Beef
China Halts Irish Beef Imports After Bluetongue Detection
China has suspended imports of Irish beef just two weeks after the market reopened. This comes after the confirmation of Bluetongue virus (BTV) cases in cattle herds in County Wexford.
According to reporting by BBC News, the suspension relates to detections of BTV-3 in four herds in the Republic of Ireland. While bluetongue poses no risk to human health, the disease triggers automatic trade safeguards under veterinary export protocols.
Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, DAFM) confirmed that it notified Chinese authorities in line with export agreement requirements. Active surveillance and tracing are continuing. Officials note that cold weather reduces the likelihood of widespread spread because the virus is transmitted by biting midges.
The development is a setback for Irish exporters after China lifted a previous ban imposed in 2024 following an atypical BSE case. Under the bilateral protocol, exports must be suspended when certain animal health events are detected.
In Northern Ireland, a suspected case is under investigation in Portavogie, County Down, within an existing Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) that has been in place since November 2025. Additional movement controls apply for higher-risk animals. In addition, a limited financial support scheme is available to affected farmers. A vaccine was approved last year in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Bluetongue affects cattle, sheep, goats, deer and camelids. Symptoms can include mouth lesions, breathing and swallowing difficulties, fever and lameness, as well as reproductive impacts. The current European wave began in the Netherlands in 2023, with variable severity reported across regions.
Source: BBC News | 28 January 2026
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