25 Oct 2023
China stops buying Dutch lamb & beef over bluetongue concerns
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China has banned the import of beef and lamb from the Netherlands due to the spread of the bluetongue disease. The official prohibition applies to all ruminant animals and products derived from them.
The Asian country has also banned the import of beef and lamb products from Belgium.
Bluetongue is a very fast-spreading virus. The virus hits sheep the hardest, usually killing them. But goats and cattle can also become very ill. Midges, tiny flies, transmit the virus.
The immediate impact of the Chinese ban on Dutch farmers due to the bluetongue disease is unclear. In 2021, the primary agricultural products China purchased from the Netherlands were baby milk powder, pork, and meat industry by-products such as liver, tongue, and intestines.
The Netherlands Agricultural and Horticultural Association LTO Nederland confirmed that the country has lost its bluetongue-free status. “This complicates exports to countries outside the EU,” a spokesperson said. However, the exact long-term effects on livestock exports remain “completely unclear,” according to the representative of the organization.
NL Times
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