Beef from the Shannonside region could start to be exported to China by July of this year.
That's the view of the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed who says today's announcement that Chinese authorities are ready to accept Irish meat supplies. presents an excellent opportunity for the Irish beef sector, from farmers through to processors.
Three beef factories here have been fully approved by the Chinese authorities including the Larry Goodman-owned ABP plant in Clones in County Monaghan.
China banned beef from the EU and US during the BSE crisis in 2000 and our exports to China were worth almost a billion Euro last year - even with the beef ban in place.
Speaking on the Joe Finnegan Show, the Minister he says it takes approximately eight weeks to export goods from Ireland to China.
