Several trade arrangements were agreed this week during a visit to Ireland by the Chinese Vice Minister, Wei Chuanzhong, from the Chinese Inspection and Quarantine Service (AQSIQ).
The AQSIQ Ministry is the key player, along with the Ministry for Agriculture, in determining market access for agriculture-related products into China.
Vice Minister Wei's visit comes just three weeks after the visit of Vice Minister Goa Hongbin from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture.
There were significant market access developments during Vice Minister Wei's visit.
He signed a protocol agreeing detailed rules for the establishment, within Ireland, of quarantine facilities for the transit of Irish horses, direct from Ireland to China.
This will facilitate the direct export of horses to China and reduce, significantly, the costs associated with such exports.
It will greatly assist in developing this new Irish export market, for the Irish thoroughbred industry.
In addition, a protocol on the export of Irish porcine semen was also signed, facilitating, for the first time, the export of fresh porcine semen from Ireland to China.
Ireland is to the forefront in the development of genomics and pedigree breeding stock.
In relation to the potential opening up of the Chinese Beef market for Ireland, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said detailed technical discussions took place between his department and the AQSIQ delegation over the past two days.
The ministers jointly signed a formal agreement on the detailed operation of a joint technical working group, comprising officials from his department and AQSIQ.
This group will further consider the scientific basis for restoring market access.
The process for lifting the ban on Irish beef to China requires the agreement of both the Ministry of Agriculture and AQSIQ.
