Rural Diaries – country life, the countryside and rural issues

Posted by Sally on August 23rd, 2008 in British Food, Farming Issues

Defra have announced that a protocol on the conditions for the export of UK pig meat to China has been signed.

China did not lift their restrictions on British meat imports, following the foot and mouth crisis in UK, until early August 2008, so this protocol is an important step in our trading relationship.

It has taken years of work to bring us to this stage of negotiations and is of course a great boost for British pig farmers at a very difficult time for them.

The Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer at Defra, Alick Simmons, said:

“The signing of this important protocol is a welcome boost to UK exporters. I hope that the UK’s positive relationship with the Chinese veterinary authorities will soon lead to the UK selling pig meat to the Chinese market.”

“Strict control measures in the UK meat sector have given our Chinese colleagues the confidence to work closely with the industry in this country. We look forward to continued cooperation with a view to implementing the protocol at the earliest possible opportunity.”

The next stage in the process is to allow Chinese inspectors to visit the UK where it is hoped they will approve processing plants in the UK and then agree export health certificates.

Lord Digby Jones said:

“The signing today of the protocol opens up a market worth, immediately, 17 million per year. It is another one of those hidden UK export stories that helps develop Brand Britain in the biggest country on earth.”

The Farming UK website carries the full story.