Beef exports to China resume after recent ban

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. This week Mr Ciobo’s office 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 co-operation 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. The six affected processing plants were:

JBS’ Beef City and Scone plants

Thomas Food International’s facility in Murray Bridge, South Australia

Northern Co-operative Meat Company’s Casino processor

Kilcoy Pastoral

Australian Country Choice plant in Brisbane

Australia’s beef exports to China were worth

$670 million in 2016.

PHOTO: DAVE NOONAN EXPORTING AGAIN: Six abattoirs including JBS Beef City near Toowoomba have resumed exporting to China after a ban was lifted.