Taoiseach welcomes reopening of Irish beef exports to China

By Gráinne Ní Aodha,

The resumption of Irish beef exports to China will be “important and positive” for trade, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheál Martin said it reflected the confidence in the “robustness” of Ireland’s food safety standards.

The Taoiseach visited China last week and pressed for the Chinese market to be reopened to Irish beef products.

He also met with China’s President Xi Jinping and Zhao Leji, chairman of China’s National People’s Congress.

“The confirmation today that the Chinese market will reopen for Irish beef is a very important and positive development in our bilateral agri-food trade with China,” Mr Martin said.

“This decision, which directly follows my positive engagements in Beijing with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in recent days, reflects the confidence of the Chinese authorities in the robustness, transparency, and effectiveness of Ireland’s animal health, traceability, and food safety systems.

“This reflects a culmination of intensive political, diplomatic, and official engagement since the market was temporarily suspended in September 2024.”

He said: “I look forward to the resumption of beef exports to China and to the continued constructive co-operation with the Chinese authorities to further strengthen agri-food trade between Ireland and China in a mutually beneficial manner.”

Meanwhile, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said Ireland’s beef production involved “comprehensive surveillance, strict regulatory oversight, and internationally recognised standards”.

“The reopening of the Chinese market further underlines the strength of these systems and Ireland’s long-standing commitment to safe, sustainable, and high-quality agri-food production,” he said.

“I’d like to thank the Chinese officials who engage positively on an ongoing basis with our Beijing embassy and with my department.

“During the recent agri-food trade mission to China, in October, my colleague Minister of State Timmy Dooley had the opportunity to highlight the importance of the market re-opening with ministerial counterparts in the GACC (General Administration of Customs of China) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.”