Irish beef plant approval for China finalised

Announced last month​ (October 2019), the additional plants brings the total number of approved beef plants to 21 in Ireland. Two cold stores in Ireland have also been given approval by the Chinese government.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD confirmed that all formalities have now been completed, and the 14 additional beef plants (plus two cold stores) have been listed on the GACC (General Administration of Customs in China) website, allowing trade from these plants to commence.

The approval was welcomed by Creed and Meat Industry Ireland senior director Cormac Healy who said that “building access for Irish beef and other meats to international growth markets is crucial to maximising market returns to the entire sector, particularly when faced with challenging internal EU market conditions”​.

In July, Japan approved Irish plants to export sheepmeat​.

The beef plants and cold stores are:​

Kildare Chilling Co.          ABP Waterford                             Ashbourne Meat Processors Tipperary

Euro Farm Foods             Dawn Meats Grannagh                  Ashbourne Meat Processors Kildare

ABP Cahir                       ABP Bandon                                 Kepak Longford

Meadow Meats                ABP Rathkeele                              Kepak Kilbeggan

Kepak Athleaque              Dawn Meats Ballyhaunis               CGI Cold Stores

Musgraves Tallaght