Irish exports to China of livestock hides and skins have resumed, following a temporary pause due to the recent outbreak of bluetongue in Wexford.
However, Irish beef exports to China are still suspended because of the situation here with bluetongue.
China is a major market for Irish hides and skins from cattle and sheep, with Irish exports of the produce to the country reaching over 42,000 tons last year.
Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon welcomed the resumption, saying China "is an important and valuable market for Irish industry, and I know that the temporary pause in trade which had followed the detection of bluetongue in Co Wexford had been a major cause for concern.
"I want to acknowledge and thank our Chinese counterparts for their engagement on this matter, and also the officials in Ireland and in our embassy in Beijing who have been working hard on this issue."
While bluetongue virus has no public health or food safety impact, its recent detection in Ireland has resulted in a number of trade disruptions.
