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More steps needed to begin beef imports to China

An international trade specialist says China has taken just the first step for the US to resume beef exports to that country.

Thad Lively with the US Meat Export Federation says the ban that went into effect in December of 2003 has been conditionally lifted.  “Before we can ship to China the first step is lifting the ban,” he says.  “The second step is negotiating the import conditions.  China has taken that first step.  If we’re understanding this correctly that’s an obviously important step in the direction of restarting exports to China – but we still have a long way to go.”

Lively says the Chinese ministry had to be convinced that the US has an effective means of traceability for any of the meat that is exported to China.  “This is not something that we have in place in terms of mandatory Animal ID,” he says.  “But we certainly are able to provide that level of assurance to the Chinese and so the industry came together and agree that it would be possible to put together a system that would allow us to meet China’s requirements.”

Lively says the livestock industry and USDA had to work closely together to regain access to the Chinese market.

China halted imports of US beef in 2003 after a case of BSE was found in Washington State.