China removes ban on five major Australian beef exporters suspended in 2020

China is lifting its ban on imports from five major Australian beef exporters, in place since 2020. This is what we know.

Patrick Hutchinson welcomed the news.

China has lifted its ban on imports from five major Australian beef exporters, in place since 2020.

The Australian Meat Industry Council said today the reinstatement of export approvals was for five out of seven Australian meat export processors that China had suspended imports from, at the height of growing political tensions between the two countries.

The Weekly Times reported earlier this month it was likely the bans would be lifted ahead of an expected visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang in June.

The five plants to have their export approvals reinstated are Queensland’s Kilcoy Global Foods, Meramist, JBS Dinmore, JBS Beef City and NSW’s Casino Food.

The remaining excluded plants are two QLD operations, John Dee, Warwick, and Australian Country Choice, Brisbane. According to AMIC, it was alledged these two plants has some issues with residues.

For the five export plants reapproved, AMIC chief executive officer Patrick Hutchinson said: “After four years of advocacy and hard work on the behalf of red meat exporters, we have finally achieved a fantastic result.”

“The AMIC team has worked closely with Agriculture Minister Murray Watt and Trade Minister Don Farrell, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as our industry partners in China, to have these suspensions lifted,” he said.

“This is a great outcome not only for these companies but the clients some of them process for, and the thousands of farmers and feedlots they support through cattle purchase.

“As a matter of priority, we will continue working with the federal government and China on not only having the remaining two exporters’ suspensions lifted, but also restarting the new opportunities for other Australian red meat businesses who have been waiting for access to the Chinese market.”

On the remaining two plants, Mr Hutchinson said it was unknown how long it could take to have their suspensions lifted.

The news was welcomed by the National Farmers Federation and the beef sector.

Cattle Australia acting chief executive officer Ivar Bisseling said industry advocacy groups such as AMIC and the federal government should be applauded for tirelessly advocating for the lifting of the suspensions.

“It has been a long haul, and the job isn’t finished yet, but this step by China to reinstate these facilities is a great outcome for the processing companies involved, the beef producers and lot feeders who supply them, and the entire Australian red meat supply chain,” he said.

Victorian producer Te Mania Angus stud’s Edward Gubbins, Mortlake, said the news it was “great for our exporters”.

Mr Gubbins said exporters had managed the ban period well, pivoting to increase shipments to other markets such as Japan and the US.

However, the reopening of those markets was “ultimately a good change for the market overall”, Mr Gubbins said.

It comes as cattle prices have eased in recent weeks as many major producing areas battle dry conditions and many herds move to reduce breeding numbers in stressed areas.