Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 October 2017
144. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeframe for finalising a veterinary health certificate with AQSIQ for Irish beef access to China; if an inspection visit by the Chinese certification and accreditation administration to approve individual processing plants for export will take place in 2017 or 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43349/17]
View answer145. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding receiving access for Irish meat products to China; the remaining stages in the approval process outstanding; and the timeframe for all stages to be completed and full access granted. [43350/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together.
China is a high priority for beef market access and significant progress has already been made. The BSE ban in respect of Irish beef was lifted by the Chinese authorities in early 2015. This was a very positive development which paved the way for the start of the process to secure access. The Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) then carried out a systems audit in Ireland in January 2016. In April 2017 together with the AQSIQ Minister Zhi Shuping, I signed a Protocol on the requirements for Frozen Beef to be exported from Ireland to China. The signing of this Protocol was another significant step towards securing beef market access. A veterinary health certificate based on this Protocol is being finalised and will be submitted to the Chinese Authorities shortly.
In August 2017 my Department hosted an audit visit from the Chinese Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) who undertook a series of plant inspection visits in order to assess the applications by Irish beef processors to gain access to the Chinese market. Feedback from the audit team was broadly positive and we are now awaiting the official report of their audit visit.
Despite this significant progress, the fact is that the pace of market access will be determined by the Chinese authorities, and not by my Department. My officials continue to liaise closely with their Chinese counterparts to ensure every assurance is provided in relation to the quality and safety of Irish beef.
Ireland currently has access for fresh/frozen pig meat and pig offals and by-products to China. Exports of pig meat to China in 2016 totalled approximately 73,090 tonnes valued at €119.29m.
Applications have also been submitted to AQSIQ China for access for Irish poultrymeat and sheepmeat. AQSIQ will only consider one commodity at a time and when the process of access for beef has been completed, they will in due course move on to assessment of other market access applications.
