In a surprising move, China has announced the lifting of a 22-year embargo on the import of Belgian beef, as stated by the Chinese customs authority. This news has come as a pleasant

surprise for Belgium's meat industry.

China will now permit the import of beef from animals under 30 months old, including imports from Poland. According to Chinese customs documents, Belgium and Poland have implemented measures to control BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), commonly known as mad cow disease, which meet the requirements set by China.

Febev, the trade association representing Belgium's meat industry, confirmed China's decision to open its borders. Michael Gore, the managing director of Febev, stated that this marks the first opportunity for Belgium to export beef to China.

However, immediate exports to China are not feasible. Febev acknowledged that while the lifting of the ban is a significant step towards reopening the market and creating opportunities for the Belgian beef industry, there are still several procedures to be completed. The Belgian food safety agency FASFC is currently engaged in discussions with Chinese partners to determine the subsequent steps. Nonetheless, this development is seen as a positive sign that will be further developed in the coming months.

The FASFC also emphasized that negotiations regarding the export of Belgian beef to China are actively ongoing, and the contacts between the two parties have been positive. This marks the beginning of a process, and there are still multiple stages to be undertaken before exports can fully materialize. Photo by Flixtey, Wikimedia commons.