ICMSA want Minister Calleary to take “personal interest” in beef exports to China

The Chairperson of ICMSA’s Livestock Committee has urged Minister Calleary to “look at all the possibilities around re-starting beef exports to China”.

Des Morrison said that not the least damage that recent events had inflicted on the farm and food sector was the halt to Irish beef exports to China just as it looked as if they were set to, in Mr. Morrison’s phrase, “really hit their stride” in terms of market penetration and reputation.  The loss of all the momentum that had been built up was a serious matter but the ICMSA spokesperson said he was convinced that the situation could be rectified and our beef repositioned as an excellent option for the Chinese market.

“We need the Department and Bord Bia to ‘double-up’ on their efforts to get that Chinese market back up and running. There’s no doubt that we had really broken into that market just before everything slowed and then stopped. But we’d still be convinced that there’s huge potential there and we’d be just as certain that quality of our products and the standards we insist upon will appeal very much to Chinese buyers and consumers”, said Mr. Morrison.

“There’s obviously going to be a bit of ‘going through the gears’ as we really rebuild supply chains and re-open markets, but ICMSA and all farmers involved in producing beef would be greatly encouraged to see a concerted effort being made around getting that Chinese trade re-set and moving it forward. We’re going to need it as we look at the likely numbers going into the ‘back-end’. So, we’d like to see some kind of announcement that Minister Calleary is going to take a personal interest in driving that forward and getting momentum going again, getting Chinese buyers back here and getting Bord Bia really active over there. We certainly think that we have to follow-through on the very good work that was done prior to the global lockdown and while there’s still a positive impression of our products and systems in this hugely significant market”, said Mr. Morrison.   

Ends    14 August 2020

Des Morrison, 087-2263331

Chairperson, ICMSA Livestock Committee

Or

Cathal MacCarthy, 087-6168758

ICMSA Press Office