The three abattoirs that can now trade with China again

In a major boost for the red meat industry, China has reinstated export approvals for three of 11 blocked abattoirs. See the details.

The red meat industry has received major good news this week with the reinstatement of export approvals from China for three of 11 suspended abattoirs.

The abattoirs had been suspended due to Covid-19 detections, with two occurring in 2020 in the midst of escalating trade tensions with China, but will now be able to export again.

The Weekly Times understands the three abattoirs allowed to trade with China again are:

AUSTRALIAN Lamb Company at Colac (for sheep), suspended since July 2020;

JBS Brooklyn (for cattle and sheep), suspended since July 2020; and

TEYS Naracoorte (for cattle), suspended since January 2022.

Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive officer Patrick Hutchison said the organisation welcomed China’s reinstatement of export approvals.

“AMIC has been advocating for this breakthrough for a long period of time with government as well as our industry partners in China,” Mr Hutchison said.

“We are glad to see movement and action on some of the outstanding issues that will allow the affected plants re-enter the market.”

Mr Hutchison said he hoped the move to bring three plants back would be the first step to address remaining access issues for Australian meat processors.

“A number of meat plants remain suspended despite significant corrective actions and steps taken to assure compliance with Chinese requirements,” he said.

“We will continue to advocate strongly for all remaining suspended plants to also regain access to China as a matter of priority.

“We hope this represents a restabilisation of the trade in meat to China which will also allow for a process and pathway for new access to the market.”

Mr Hutchison said there were other export meat processors which have been trying to gain access to China for a number of years.

“We hope that this development paves the way for them to soon be able to supply Chinese consumers with Australia’s top quality, safe meat and meat products,” he said.

Cattle Australia chief executive officer Dr Chris Parker said while it was pleasing to “finally see these three Covid-19 suspensions lifted, we need the government to continue to work to get China to lift the remaining eight suspensions”.

“The Australian cattle industry wants a level playing field for all players in the export supply chain to ensure maximum competition for producers,” Dr Parker said.

“Barriers not based on science have a detrimental effect on all cattle producers.”