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Colombia is set to begin exporting beef to China after Easter, after striking an agreement with the Chinese sanitary authorities. The deal is the result of negotiations initiated in September last year by the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture, which sought access to China’s beef market, the world's leading importer of this product. The approval of the export protocol marked the first step, opening the doors to a market of more than 1.4 billion inhabitants.
The process to achieve this approval was meticulous. Colombia had to regain its status as a country free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination, and China lifted restrictions on Colombian beef and pork. Meetings were held between the Colombian Agricultural Institute (CAI) and the Chinese Customs Administration to review technical aspects of epidemiological surveillance and control systems in Colombia. During the Ministry of Agriculture’s visit to China, the sanitary protocol for beef exports was agreed upon, as well as the admissibility of other products such as pork and lemons.
Recently, China authorized the first two processing plants for the purchase of Colombian meat, both belonging to Minerva Foods. The news was announced by the technical secretary of the Price Stabilization Fund and the executive president of Fedegán.
The Colombian Federation of Cattle Raisers celebrated this achievement as a result of the joint work with the National Government and institutions of the sector during the last 12 years.
José Félix Lafaurie, executive president of Fedegán, highlighted that this market opening is great news for the country's cattle farmers, as a result of the commitment to sustainability, genetic improvement and animal health. The first export of Colombian beef to China is expected to take place after Easter, which represents a significant opportunity for the Colombian livestock sector and strengthens trade ties between the two countries.
Main source:
Colombia empezará a exportar carne bovina a China después de Semana Santa (2024, marzo 19).
https://www.elespectador.com/economia/empresas/colombia-empezara-a-exportar-carne-bovina-a-china-despues-de-semana-santa/
Other related sources:
La República (19 de marzo, 2024). https://www.larepublica.co/economia/china-aprobo-dos-plantas-de-frigorificos-de-colombia-para-la-exportacion-de-carne-3824545
