Beef City given the all-clear
China exports to resume
AN IMPORT ban by China on six Australian meat processing plants, including JBS Beef City near Toowoomba, has been lifted after three months.
The ban was instituted on July 24 and Trade Minister Steve Ciobo said it could affect anywhere up to $100 million in trade.
He said the ban was put in place after Chinese concerns with labelling inconsistencies.
Mr Ciobo’s office yesterday released a statement that the ban had finally been lifted.
“The Turnbull Coalition Government is pleased China has lifted the suspension of red meat imports from six Australian meat-processing facilities,” Mr Ciobo said.
“The facilities, which account for around 30 per cent of Australia’s beef exports to China, can now resume exporting.
“This positive outcome reflects the high level of cooperation between Australian and Chinese authorities, and our red meat industry.”
He said Australia and China had an excellent relationship and the country was our largest trading partner.
He pointed to the success of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) as aiding in the resolution of the problem and said the two countries would continue to work together to build on the success.
Affected processing plants included JBS’s Beef City and Scone plants as well as Kilcoy Pastoral and Australian Country Choice in Brisbane.
Australia’s beef exports to China were worth
$670 million in 2016.