Beijing has placed a temporary ban on meat exports from six Australian slaughterhouses over alleged concerns about labeling discrepancies on products.
The licenses that allow the processors to export beef and lamb to China were suspended as of Monday, Australian officials said Thursday. The six plants include two owned by Brazilian meatpacking giant JBS SA and one partly owned by Chinese firm New Hope.
“This is a significant issue: these six plants represent up to 50% of our exports of beef to China,” said Steven Ciobo, Australia’s minister for trade, tourism and investment. “It’s tens of millions of [Australian] dollars, and potentially over A$100 million (US$80 million), of trade that could be affected.”
Meat that was en route to China ahead of the suspension will be allowed through customs, said Mr. Ciobo, who added that he couldn’t comment on how long it could take for the situation to be addressed. The firms have been given 45 days to rectify issues.
He said those issues included labels on the outside of boxes not matching those on products inside.
China’s Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, which reported the ban on its website, couldn’t be reached for comment.
Source: China Bans Meat From Six Australian Slaughterhouses – WSJ
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