Moves to allow French exports of pig meat and charcuterie products to China took a step closer this week during a state visit to France by Chinese president Xi Jinping.
During the visit the French minister for agriculture, forestry and food, Stéphan Le Foll and the agribusiness minister Guillaume Garot met with Zhi Shuping, the Chinese minister for quarantine.
During the meeting the ministers endorse the moves for improved agricultural trade started during the French President François Holland’s visit to China in April last year.
Three French charcuterie companies have taken the final steps to gaining approval to export to China.
And Ministers Le Foll and GAROT asked the Chinese authorities to finalise the procedure so that exports of meats can start before the Food Fair in Shanghai in May.
The Chinese authorities have also issued a list of 18 French companies and 39 refrigerated warehouses that can now export of pork and chicken to the Chinese market.
“This publication is good news at a time when the French food industry has been fighting for exports and the Chinese market is an opportunity for many companies,” a ministry spokesman said.
Mr Le Foll and Mr Zhi also signed a new health protocol to allow the export of pig genetics and breeding pigs to China.
The French and Chinese authorities have also set up a bilateral working group to look at raising the embargo on exports of French beef to China.
The two sides have also come to an agreement of a suspension of an anti-dumping investigation that threaten French wine exporters.
