LAST UPDATE | 17 Jan 2024

CHINA IS REOPENING its market to Irish beef after it suspended imports in November due to a case of Atypical BSE being detected during the testing of a cow in Ireland, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed. 

The Department of Agriculture said at the time that the decision was made by China and that the lifting of the suspension was at the discretion of the Chinese authorities. 

BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), commonly called Mad Cow Disease, comes in two forms, Classical BSE and Atypical BSE.

Classical BSE occurs when cows eat contaminated feed while the Atypical form is thought to occur spontaneously in bovine herds, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health

This was the first Atypical BSE case detected in Ireland since 2020.

Varadkar confirmed the resumption of imports after he met with China’s premier Li Qiang during his brief diplomatic visit to Dublin.  

Speaking after the meeting, Varadkar said he expected the change to happen imminently. 

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said that “China’s decision to resume Irish beef imports on the same conditions as before represents a clear vote of confidence in Ireland’s food safety systems and in the output of its beef sector”. 

IFA president Fancie Gorman has welcomed the news, and said: “We are always seeking access to as many markets as possible and the Chinese market offers very significant opportunities.”

Gorman said the “renewal of access to this market must be reflected in further price increases for farmers”. 

The Taoiseach also said there was a clear desire on both sides to deepen relations and increase investment.

He said the Chinese government is liberalising its travel rules for Irish citizens, allowing them to stay in China for up to 15 days without a visa.

“So two very tangible outcomes and a lot more that we can work together on.”

Li Qiang, the premier of the People’s Republic of China, arrived last night on a Boeing 747 Max 8 – the largest commercial aircraft to land at Dublin Airport. He was presented with red roses by a Chinese official upon landing.

Varadkar said he and Li ate beef during his visit to Farmleigh House this afternoon. 

Chinese premier Li Qiang receives a guard of honour at Farmleigh House Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Human rights 

Speaking following the meeting, Varadkar said the Irish Government raised human rights concerns with the Chinese delegation. 

He said the Government raised issues about several regions and the forthcoming trial of Jimmy Lai.

“We raised, in particular, our concerns about human rights in what are called the special autonomous regions: Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau.

“We need to be frank about these things – that China is on the UN Human Rights Council and has international responsibilities.

“Any country, including our own country, should be judged by the way it treats minorities.

He said Li was happy to discuss the matters but added: “I don’t want to speak for him, but I think its fair to say that they would have a very different view of the facts and dispute a lot of what’s said in the media.”

Varadkar also said that China has an “indispensable” role to play on climate and global security matters.

“We want to have a very strong and constructive relationship with China. One based on trust and respect, and one informed by our values and the multilateral system in which were both stakeholders,” Varadkar said. 

“Of course, we won’t find agreement on everything but I hope we’ll always speak frankly and respectfully to each other, and candidly, as we did today. That’s an important part of the rules-based order to which we both subscribe,” the Taoiseach said. 

“I believe China’s role is indispensable in the world when it comes to finding ways to overcome the challenges we face, not least when it comes to climate, global security, global inequality and the conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Myanmar.”

Meeting with President 

This morning, Li received a strong welcome by Irish President Higgins and his wife Sabina at his official residence at Aras an Uachtarain in the Phoenix Park.

Higgins said that he remembered his state visit to China and Xi Jinping’s visit to Ireland in 2012 while he was vice-president. Mr Xi became China’s president the following year.

Chinese premier Li Qiang meets President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtarain Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Higgins said his 2014 visit to China gave him the opportunity “to have discussions on many topics and also visiting parts of the People’s Republic of China”.

“I very much welcome you, premier, and all of those travelling with you,” he said.

Li noted that Higgins had previously visited China and said: “You also had an in-depth exchange of views and a frank meeting with President Xi, and reached common understanding on a wide range of issues.

There was a heavy garda presence around Phoenix Park, which was closed to the public until 7pm today.

With reporting by Press Association