China has launched an investigation into beef imports as an oversupply is thought to be significantly affecting domestic prices.
According to Reuters, the commerce ministry in China announced last Friday (December 27) that it was launching the investigation. The largest beef exporters to China are Brazil, Argentina and Australia.
China’s total beef imports reached $14.2 billion in 2023, increasing from $8.2 billion in 2019, according to customs data.
It’s understood the investigation will focus on fresh beef, cold beef, head of beef and frozen beef imported between January 1, 2019 and June 30, 2024. The enquiry follows an application by the China Animal Husbandry Association (CAHA) and other cattle and livestock groups.
The applicants said a sharp increase in import volumes over the period had “seriously damaged” China’s domestic industry, the ministry said.
CAHG is a state-owned enterprise engaged in modern agricultural and animal farming industry with a comprehensive range of business, composed of manufacturing and operations, trading and customer services, research and development, and financing management.
The ministry said imports of the beef products under investigation accounted for 30.9% of the Chinese market.
Meat prices in China, including pork, beef, and poultry have declined as demand wanes due to difficult economic conditions for consumers, Reuters reported.
Beef to China from Ireland
Earlier this year, shipments of beef products to China and South Korea from Ireland were temporarily stopped after an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered in a cow here.
A fallen animal was tested in mid-September, and on foot of those results, authorities in China and South Korea were informed and exports of beef halted, in line with the agreements in place with both countries.
Atypical BSE occurs sporadically in all cattle populations at a very low rate and is not considered a public health risk, unlike classical BSE, or mad-cow disease, which arises from contaminated animal feed.
This was the third time that Irish beef exports to China have been stopped due to a case of atypical BSE.
Earlier this month, Agriland revealed that the suspension of Irish beef exports to South Korea had been lifted.
Food Business Operators (FBOs) were informed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) on Monday, December 2, that Irish beef produced at all FBOs approved to export beef to Korea on or after November 29, could now be exported to the Asian market destination.
