China and the UK signed a protocol agreement in June of this year after a five-year process, and the deal has officially been finalized.
Four sites in Northern Ireland and England will be eligible to export beef to China by the end of 2019, ending the 20-year ban on exports following an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
“This is a great end to a very successful year for our red meat exports,” said Phil Hadley, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board international market development director.
“This new agreement is fantastic news for our beef processors who will now have access to another market outside of the [European Union].”
Hadley clarified to Global Meat News that the agreement was only coincidental with the timing of Brexit negotiations and the rise of African swine fever in China.
