New Market For British Pig Meat

22/08/08 New Market For British Pig Meat - DEFRA

Defra today announced that a protocol on the conditions for the export of UK pig meat to China has been signed by the Minister for Trade and Investment, Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham, and Li Changjiang, Minister at the General Administration of Quality, Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ) in Beijing.

This is a major step towards the UK beginning exports of pig meat to China, after the Chinese authorities lifted foot-and-mouth related import restrictions on 7 August this year.

The signing of the protocol is the culmination of many years of hard work and cooperation between the Chinese authorities, Defra, the British Pig Executive (BPEX), the Chinese Embassy in London, and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) in Beijing and London.

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."

Defra, UKTI staff and BPEX will now work with the Chinese authorities to progress the remaining Chinese requirements as quickly as possible - specifically to conduct inspection visits to the UK, approve UK processing plants and to subsequently agree export health certification.

This also represents an important step towards reaching the bilateral trade target of $60 billion agreed by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and Premier Wen Jiabao in January 2008.

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."

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