"Chinese regulations now allow imports of live hogs and pig parts from the United States, Canada, Denmark, the Republic of Ireland and France, and may shortly reopen its doors to imports from Germany. However, these countries usually export pig heads, tails, trotters and intestines to China because they do not consume such meat in the same quantities," says Ms Hu, an expert from the Sichuan Pork Import & Export Chamber of Commerce, according to official sources.

"China should control the quantity of imported pig parts, although import levels are not very high at present," she added.

State-owned Xinhua news agency reported that China will remove the ban on German imports of live hogs and pig parts in the near future after German Agriculture Vice Minister Gerd Mueller signed an agreement with Wei Chuanzhong, Vice-Director of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

"China's imports of meat will rise this year, although the country will remain a net exporter of pork. In addition, some higher quality meat or processed meat will be introduced to the domestic market, but cheap pig parts are not welcome in China," said Yao Minpu, vice-chairman of the China Animal Agriculture Association.