China lifts export suspension for five meat processors

China has reinstated the export approval for five Australian meat export processors, after suspending them in 2020 for technical reasons. Three other companies were reinstated six months ago, and two more remain suspended. 

The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) welcomed the news, with only two processors still under suspension.

Six months ago, three companies had their approvals reinstated.

AMIC CEO, Patrick Hutchinson, said, “AMIC has continued working tirelessly advocating for the lifting of the remaining suspensions with government as well as our industry partners in China.

“After four years of advocacy and hard work on the behalf of red meat exporters we have finally achieved a fantastic result.”

Hutchinson said that the council had worked closely with federal agricultural minister, Murray Watt, trade minister, Don Farrell, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as industry partners in China, to have these suspensions lifted.

“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,” he said.

AMIC was now focused on getting the final two suspensions lifted and restarting opportunities for other Australian red meat businesses that have been waiting for access to the Chinese Market.