Ireland’s decision to export live pigs and sheep meat to China sparks backlash

Ireland has struck a new deal which will pave the way for the export of sheepmeat and breeding pigs from Ireland to China, in a move which has caused consternation among agricultural stakeholders. The deal, which follows years of negotiations, was announced on Saturday (18 September) in what Ireland’s agricultural minister, Charlie McConalogue called an “important milestone” in gaining access to the Chinese market. “The announcement is a show of confidence in the skill and commitment of our farmers who produce a world class product,” he said in a tweet. While a ​​number of technical steps remain before trade can commence, the minister said in an online statement that he expected that once the remaining steps were completed, exports will “grow gradually over time, as Chinese consumers become familiar with the quality and taste of our Irish sheepmeat offering.” China is a substantial importer of sheepmeat, accounting for 38% of the global sheepmeat import market. In 2020, China’s ...