In addition to striking a beef deal with the UK, China has approved more beef processing plants in Ireland.
The additional 14 approved plants bring the total number of plants eligible to supply beef to the Chinese market to 21.
China originally inspected and audited plants in September, but ongoing producer protests delayed the process.
“We were the first country in western Europe to achieve access to the Chinese market and now it is clear that our plants are meeting the high and exacting standards of the Chinese authorities,” said Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed.
China has kept busy this summer in the beef industry; in September the country also approved 25 plants in Brazil for export.
