EFRA chair Robert Goodwill has written a letter to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary of State Dr. Thérèse Coffey, requesting the UK Government to restore UK pork exporters’ access to China. The pandemic resulted in many abattoirs surrendering their export licenses to China voluntarily after experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks. Despite meeting the requirements of the General Administration Customs China (GACC) to reinstate these licenses, exporters remain barred from the Chinese market. Goodwill has urged the Secretary of State to lead a rapid solution to this issue, which includes engaging with the GACC. He cautioned the Government that if swift action is not taken, Chinese businesses may choose to contract with exporters from other countries. The letter also requests additional details on the Prime Minister’s Food Security Summit and the steps being taken to tackle sea life mortality. A full copy of the letter can be viewed here. An investigation into country-wide pork chain fraud was also launched last month, citing claims of supplying rotten meat to hospitals and care homes.
Government urged to allow access to China pork market to be reinstated
