The sites, five in England and one in Scotland, will now be able to commence exports.
It will be the first time these sites in Britain, which belong to Cranswick, Karro and Tulip, have exported trotters to China.
AHDB international market development director Dr Phil Hadley said: “This is fantastic news for both the pork sector and the individual businesses. It is the first time that trotters from these sites will be shipped to China – a hugely important market for our pig meat exports.
“The announcement is the result of hard work and collaboration across industry and government and a testament to the high standards, quality and safety of our country’s pork production.”
Farming Minister George Eustice said: “The announcement is a huge win for the UK pork industry, unlocking access to China’s lucrative market for pig trotters.
“We are proud of the work farmers across all parts of the UK do to maintain high animal welfare and safety standards, and the decision made today means that more people across the globe can enjoy British pork.
“As we leave the UK we will continue to strive to maximise trading opportunities for British produce across the world.”
The announcement follows a lengthy process of negotiations involving the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) in collaboration with the FSA, UKECP, APHA and the wider industry.
The trotter plant approval comes just days after the government announced beef from the UK will be exported to China for the first time in 20 years.
Market value
China is the UK’s biggest customer of pig meat and is a market that continues to grow in both volume and value. In the year-to-date, around a third of the UK’s total pig meat exports was shipped to China, up 58% cent on 2018.
So far this year, total pig meat exports are worth £369m, of which the Chinese market is valued at £93m, a rise of 111% compared to the same time last year.