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Trade Relations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2021

Wednesday, 26 May 2021

Questions (230)

Brendan Smith

Question:

230. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in having beef exports to China resumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28477/21]

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Written answers

Ireland was very pleased to gain access to the Chinese market for beef in April 2018. Department officials worked closely with Chinese Customs to achieve that access and it is a market of significant interest to our industry. According to CSO trade data, the overall value of beef exports to China increased from €65 million in 2018 to €95 million in 2019 but declined markedly last year as a result of ongoing restrictions on beef imports.

In May 2020, the Department identified and confirmed an isolated case of Atypical BSE. There is no public health risk associated with the incidence of Atypical BSE which is believed to occur spontaneously in all cattle populations at a very low rate and has only been identified in older cattle. The discovery of this rare atypical case exemplifies the strength of Ireland’s controls and surveillance system.

Following the confirmation of the Atypical BSE case, Ireland suspended shipments to China in accordance with the terms of the bilateral protocol governing the beef trade and pending a risk assessment by the Chinese customs authorities.

Since last May, the Department, in collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland in Beijing, has engaged intensively with relevant Chinese officials to seek the resumption of trade. To assist the Chinese customs authorities in their deliberations, the Department promptly provided a comprehensive epidemiological report in June 2020, and submitted a further a detailed update on our official BSE controls in November 2020 at the request of the Chinese authorities.

The Department has pursued official, diplomatic and political channels to present the case to the Chinese authorities for a restoration of trade on scientific and safety grounds. We have sought to resolve the issue through high-level correspondence, including three Ministerial letters and through correspondence between the Taoiseach and China’s Premier.

Along with Minister of State Martin Heydon, I have raised the matter with China’s Ambassador to Ireland in meetings last September and more recently in March. We will continue to utilise every available option for dialogue until the suspension is lifted.

Ultimately, it must be recognised that the timing of the decision to resume trade remains a matter for the Chinese customs authorities. However, given the importance of the market for the sector, I continue to press the case for a resumption of beef exports to China whenever there is appropriate opportunity to do so.

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