China to restart talks about lifting ban on European beef

THE CHINESE government will restart talks about lifting the ban on European beef, EU agriculture commissioner Dacian Ciolos said yesterday, a vital step on the road to ending the prohibition imposed after the BSE crisis.

“The Chinese have a problem with the importation of beef because of the BSE. They have promised to restart the discussion,” Mr Ciolos told a briefing during a trip to Beijing. “The minister accepts to discuss pilot products and there will now be discussions at a technical level.”

Mr Ciolos signed a plan with China’s agriculture minister, Han Changfu, to co-operate on agriculture, with a focus on food security and combating counterfeiting, as well as the environment and sustainability.

Agricultural exports from the EU were worth a record €105 billion last year and matched shipments from the US. China and Hong Kong make up the thirdbiggest agricultural import market for the EU, with shipments rising by about €2.5 billion in 2011.

As evidenced during the visit in March by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and a subsequent visit in April by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, these are areas that provide major opportunities for Irish agribusiness companies.

China banned Irish and EU beef after the health scares in the early part of the century. Ireland has been active on a bilateral basis in trying to get access for Ireland beef companies to the potentially lucrative Chinese market.

During the Taoiseach’s visit, the Chinese said scientific testing would begin on safety standards, a step on the road to ending the ban.

Mr Ciolos said individual countries pushing for progress was fine “in the short term” but for broader success the EU had to act as a unit.

“We have a common market and all member states have to recognise standards. We are stronger when we work together. Each member state accepts this. If it’s for the short term, it’s okay. But if each member state wants to negotiate individually, it will affect our capacity,” he said.

The deal is crucial to help stop counterfeiting of wine in China – there is far more Chateau Lafite 1982 in China than was produced in France, and wine and spirits account for 85 per cent of agricultural products exported to China from the EU, he said.

“This co-operation plan is a new step in our commitment to work together to address common challenges – in particular food security, rural development, food safety and climate change,” he said.